Pains Ideas on Common Sense: Society and Government - Essay Example

THOMAS PAINE Thomas Paine Thomas Paine ideas of common sense look at the challenges of the government, the nature of our community and advice for formation of new governments. Paine also focuses on the importance of American relationship with other European nations, whether, the diplomacy and trade of America should be controlled by Britain self –interest and the feasibility of winning an independence war. He analyzes resources, population, and navy issues and construes that it can happen. Pain argues that human society in its purest form can survive without government taints, because the society will operate under mutual interest and respect like survival, preservation.

According to him, a government is not needed and should be regulated when a natural society is large enough as a moral virtue is unnecessary in governing man prone challenges. In comparison to my own ideas enlightenment living, Paine’s idea of government as unavoidable evil is out of place because; people need an authority and a point of reference. Governments and monarchies are rightly places because people need a leader in charge of decision-making, protect and preserve the community. The government represents its citizens in the entire nation and without it citizen would lack a single entity to stand for their feelings.

The country’s security is risked without the government that represents the voice of its people. Paine argues that monarchy is not grounded in liberty but prejudice, while people’s constitution is the real freedom form. He challenges people to see the underlying problems of the monarch irrespective of its enduring tradition that is unquestionable, (Paine, Cronauer & Recorded Books, 2005). Paine firmly disagrees with the monarchy and hereditary succession principle and he quotes the bible in many occasions that the basis of monarchy is strongly in opposition of the truth of bible.

He terms the Kings government as outright idolatry, an kind of administration that did not emanate from nature or divinity but originated from Heathens that resulted from disorderly gangs and cruelly forced themselves in power against people’s will. He refers to as England’s Monarchy founder as French bastard because he believes that William the Conqueror forced his way to boastful rule against his people’s will, (Paine & University of Virginia, 1993). According to pain the hereditary leaderships of leaders is not a moral virtue guarantee because moral virtue cannot be inherited and future generations will be led by enthroned gracious kings.

Hereditary leadership leaves the countries more vulnerable to special interest of their enemies and terrorists attacks and corruption is bound to thrive. I agree with Paine because most of the modern monarchies even today do not promote freedom for the people and democracy as expected, instead they reinforce prejudice and corruption that risks the rights and freedom of the people. Hereditary succession, on the other hand, though divinely and biblically oriented it has some challenges because people seek to serve their own interested rather than the interested of the common citizens.

This is because Kings seeks to pass on the wealth and leadership of their nations to their family members who may not have the wit, wisdom and the leadership traits required to run a state. This consequently, risks the independence and security of a nation because corruption and other evil did may thrive. In conclusion, therefore, Pains ideas on common sense inspire many modern thinkers in various ways to look at our society and government and the relationship between the two. His ideas serves as an enlightenment to put our government under check to ensure it serves its purpose in the society.

References Paine, T. (2001). Common sense too. New York: Vantage Press. Paine, T., Cronauer, A., & Recorded Books, Inc. (2005). Common sense. Prince Frederick, MD: Recorded Books. Paine, T., & University of Virginia. (1993). Common sense. Charlottesville, Va: University of Virginia Library.