Thomas Paine and Lessons for Today
reader guest post by Common
Sense Gram
Thomas Paine had some words of wisdom that are applicable to the current dismal
state of affairs in the Democratic Party. Mr. Paine penned his words of “Common
Sense” for a different time and his warning rings true today.
The few are manipulating the many and as Mr. Paine warned, it is to their own
benefit not the benefit of those they were elected to represent. I quote Mr.
Paine here:
“In a former page I likewise mentioned the necessity of a large and
equal representation; and there is no political matter which more deserves
our attention. A small number of electors, or a small number of representatives,
are equally dangerous. But if the number of the representatives be not only
small, but unequal, the danger is increased. As an instance of this, I mention
the following; when the Associators petition was before the House of Assembly
of Pennsylvania; twenty-eight members only were present, all the Bucks County
members, being eight, voted against it, and had seven of the Chester members
done the same, this whole province had been governed by two counties only,
and this danger it is always exposed to. The unwarrantable stretch likewise,
which that house made in their last sitting, to gain an undue authority over
the delegates of that province, ought to warn the people at large, how they
trust power out of their own hands. A set of instructions for the Delegates
were put together, which in point of sense and business would have dishonored
a school-boy, and after being approved by a few, a very few without doors,
were carried into the house, and there passed in behalf of the whole colony;
whereas, did the whole colony know, with what ill-will that House hath entered
on some necessary public measures, they would not hesitate a moment to think
them unworthy of such a trust.“A large and equal representation.” “A small number of electors…..
is equally dangerous.”
Words that are especially germane to what is happening in America today. Words
that are echoing through history to warn us not to give in to the demands of
the few. The “few” are disenfranchising the many. Mr. Paine’s words
are a wonderful argument against caucuses and against the party bosses.
“A set of instructions for the Delegates……approved by a few…without
doors….(translate back room dealings?)….whereas, did the whole colony
know , with what ill-will…”
Amazing how these words resound today! Is it possible that instructions, issued
privately, in the back rooms and corridors of power are being used to manipulate
the outcome of the Democratic Presidential Primaries? Of course it is possible
and, sadly, even probable. Ill-will? How else to label the nonsense issuing
from the mouths of the party elite? How else to explain the convoluted allocation
of delegates and the blocking of the votes in Fl and MI? The few have grown
enamored of themselves and the power they have usurped from the people.
“They would not hesitate a moment to think them unworthy of such a
trust.”
Dean, Pelosi, Kennedy et. al. are no longer worthy of my trust. In my humble
opinion they are fighting to hold on to their power and are no longer able to
discern the hearts and minds of the electorate.
More From Mr. Paine:
“But as the colony increases, the public concerns will increase likewise,
and the distance at which the members may be separated, will render it too
inconvenient for all of them to meet on every occasion as at first, when their
number was small, their habitations near, and the public concerns few and
trifling. This will point out the convenience of their consenting to leave
the legislative part to be managed by a select number chosen from the whole
body, who are supposed to have the same concerns at stake which those have
who appointed them, and who will act in the same manner as the whole body
would act were they present. If the colony continue increasing, it will become
necessary to augment the number of the representatives, and that the interest
of every part of the colony may be attended to, it will be found best to divide
the whole into convenient parts, each part sending its proper number; and
that the elected might never form to themselves an interest separate from
the electors, prudence will point out the propriety of having elections often;
because as the elected might by that means return and mix again with the general
body of the electors in a few months, their fidelity to the public will be
secured by the prudent reflection of not making a rod for themselves. And
as this frequent interchange will establish a common interest with every part
of the community, they will mutually and naturally support each other, and
on this (not on the unmeaning name of king) depends the strength of government,
and the happiness of the governed. “
Mr. Paine points out to us that the elected are to have the same concerns as
those who appoint them. They are never to “form to themselves an interest
separate from the electors.” I submit that the party bosses have done exactly
this- they have formed a cabal whose only interest is retaining their power.
Let the people cry out asking for every vote to be counted and the people are
deluged with cries of “The Rules.” Whose rules? Oh yes, that set of
instructions they cooked up, that set of instructions that is being used to
manipulate the outcome of this election. That set of instructions that THEY
wrote, that they know most of the electorate has not read.
Some of us have read “The Rules” and know this is nothing more than
a ploy for them to get the result they want. The rules were written in such
a way as to render them meaningless; they can be interpreted and applied in
a variety of ways.
History is crying out to us with valuable lessons. Let those who care listen
and beware.
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