Common Sense, the Rights of Man and Other Essential Writings of ThomasPaine

I keep a copy of this book on my desk with a small collection of historical reads. This includes a copy of a very used and worn paperback ESV Bible. I like to read these while having lunch and I’m amazed at the number of coworkers who grab them and do the same. Oddly enough they put them back. Well most of the time. Occasionally a coworker will ask to barrow one and I just tell them they can have it, I’ll get another copy! Amazon makes it too easy!Start and keep a small collection of five to ten historical paperback books on your desk. If you’re a Christian like me, include an ESV Bible. Read them while having your lunch. First off they will help you slow down and enjoy you meal. Secondly they will help refresh your mind in the middle of the day. Thirdly, they will help to continue to educate you as you grow older. How can you go wrong from reading history!!!I hope this review helps people!

In view of the last presidential election, I decided to see just how far we, as a nation, have strayed from the intentions of our founding fathers. First I read the Constitution of the United States then I read Thomas Paine.This man must have been the greatest political writer of his time. His knowledge of the French and American revolutions, politics, economics, and human nature were simply astounding! Though I had a little trouble with the English of the day, I was able to understand his main points and make my own comparisons.There is no doubt about his feelings for "hereditary government." The theme that the rights of future generations are taken away when their elders setup "forever" governments seems to be one of the main threads of his writing. He explains many of the faults of hereditary governments while extolling the benefits of a constitutional republic.The importance of having a government that can change with the times to fit the needs of the present while being able to allow for the future is another strong thread in his writing. This thread strengthens his argument in favor of the constitutional republic.While I may or may not agree with the results of our recent elections, Paine has certainly helped me me understand why they turned out the way they did. "The more perfect the civilization is, the less occasion it has for Government, because the more it does regulate its own affairs, and govern itself..." Could it be the American people are tired of big government? Do Americans feel since government grew under the party of less government they need to see if the other party can do better?On speaking of war, Paine says, "Why are not Republics plunged into war, but because the nature of their Government does not admit of an interest distinct from that of the Nation?....Instead, therefore, of exclaiming against the ambition of Kings, the exclamation should be directed against the principle of such Governments; and instead of seeking to reform the individual, the wisdom of a Nation should apply itself to reform the system."I recommend this book to anyone who is seriously trying to understand our system of government. In order to understand where we are going, we must understand how we got to where we are.

I have to say that I had a bit of a tough time getting into this book. For me, to truly enjoy it, I had to mentally place my mind back a couple hundred years and envision what it must have been like to live under the tyranny of a monarcial ruling class. As a citizen of a representative democracy and having lived an abundant life, that transformation took some doing. Fortunately, my most recent books have been about the middle ages leading up to the age of enlightenment - that helped a lot. The break from English powers did not happen easily but it happened because of people like Samuel Adams. John Adams and Thomas Paine. Sadly, we take the fruits of our forefathhers labor for granted and we should not.Once my mental transformation took place I just could not get enough of this book. It is not a book to read for enjoyment. To me, it was not a page turner. Rather, it was a must read because I am US citizen and want to know more about the fundamental philosophies of our forefathers. Equally important was "the rights of man". How exciting it must have been to live in those times of enlightment.I suppose I ordered Common Sense / The Rights of Man because I am troubled by the direction our country is taking. In my soul, I question if the monarcial ruling class has been replaced by an elite ruling class of two political parties. Common Sense forced me to question whether the political elite, of both parties, use the power to tax in ways similar to how monarcial classes did. Would Thomas Paine question if the elite see our national economy as their sand box to play in for their own benefit and advancement. Tax payers keep shoving sand into the sand box and the elite keep spending it to advance, not society in general, but to shore up their own bases and thus their power. My Gosh, do I have a bit of Thomas Paine in me. Or, maybe I am a Tea Party guy and don't even know it. Thankfully, I am happy with my day job.

This is not a book for the easy light reader. This is an indepth writing of Thomas Paine's reviews of all of us. He reaches inside the issues and put the heart and sole of the issue on the table for us to think about.

It is amazing how a little common sense goes a long way. 1790 was an age that most people take for granted during the founding of this country. Thomas Paine was simply one who observed America from the sideline, being from England, it was easier for him relate to what was beginning to happen in the US. Today the book still applies and simply points out that we are to gullible of a nation to accept what is becoming of our nation regardless of the political party. We hear from others what is going on without any regard to what is really happening and believe it because that person is who they claim they are without us understanding who or what they really are or stand for. Obama actually said, "Just words, Just speaches", meaning he would say whatever you want to hear because he has his own agenda to fulfill and it is not our agenda.