It’s Just Common Sense!
God bless America today and every day!
“We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness.–That to secure these rights, Governments are instituted among Men, deriving their just powers from the consent of the governed . . ..”
Instead of talking today about the masterfully-worded Declaration of Independence, I thought I would share a few thoughts instead about a different document that sought to stir up the encouragement and motivation for the early colonists to support the cause of independence, and then correlate the words to our times today.
Early in 1776, the gifted writer Thomas Paine penned a direct, thoughtful, and powerful call to freedom to the “Inhabitants of America,” called simply “Common Sense.” I highly encourage you to read this (rather lengthy) pamphlet, which is just as relevant today as it was in 1776.
Common Sense began with these words:
“Some writers have so confounded society with government, as to leave little or no distinction between them; whereas they are not only different, but have different origins. Society is produced by our wants [and needs], and government by our wickedness; the former promotes our happiness positively by uniting our affections, the latter negatively by restraining our vices. The one encourages intercourse, the other creates distinctions. The first is a patron, the last a punisher. Society in every state is a blessing, but Government, even in its best states is but a necessary evil; in its worst state an intolerable one . . ..”
This comparison between government and society was spot on in 1776 and has not changed today, except that even more people today have confounded society with government and believe government is society. These people cannot be more mistaken.
Government is indeed a necessary and sometimes intolerable evil. James Madison said something to the effect of “if men were angels, government would not be needed.” But we are not angels and sometimes we need that necessary evil to deal with societal ills and malfeasors. But we should never mistake the need to address such issues with the idea that government is somehow benevolent and kind.
This is exactly what the colonies and signers of the Declaration of Independence sought to address in 1776, removing the chains of repressive government with which they were bound.
Government should exist to provide limited protections and guarantees that we cannot otherwise provide for ourselves, but nothing more.
The British Crown had become too intrusive, controlling, and dictatorial. Today, our federal government is very much the same and we must remember the limitations set forth in the United States Constitution and live by them.
Does this passage from Common Sense ring true still today?
“A long habit of not thinking a thing wrong, gives it a superficial appearance of being right.”
Our nation has developed the exact habit of thinking a militarized and overbearing government is not wrong, but rather, necessary and reasonable. Just like the colonists though, we must remember that an all-powerful, overbearing government is not only wrong, but should be intolerable.
Next year, we will commemorate the 250th birthday of the United States of America. Let’ss spend these next 12 months considering what freedom, independence, and liberty mean to us, and take steps to create a society independent from what has become a bloated federal government.
Paine concluded with this passage:
“WHEREFORE, instead of gazing at each other with suspicious or doubtful curiosity, let each of us hold out to his neighbor the hearty hand of friendship, and unite in drawing a line, which, like an act of oblivion, shall bury in forgetfulness every former dissention. Let the names of Whig and Tory be extinct; and let none other be heard among us, than those of a good citizen; an open and resolute friend; and a virtuous supporter of the RIGHTS of MANKIND, and of the FREE AND INDEPENDANT STATES OF AMERICA.”
Amen. Perhaps we also need to stop thinking in terms of Democrat and Republican and work to create the society imagined by Thomas Paine nearly 250 years ago.
Finally, also found in Common Sense – “I do not choose to be a common man. It is my right to be uncommon…if I can.”
Now, that is common sense! Let’s together be uncommon.
God bless America today and every day!
