“Not thinking a thing wrong gives it a superficial appearance of being right.” Thomas Paine’s words just made sense. In his pamphlets Thomas Paine made some of the most profound statements that still ring true to this day. In fact, America owes much of its beginning ideas for government on the idea laid out by Thomas Paine’s Common Sense released in February of 1776.
In the section the first section Thomas Paine states that government is a “necessary evil.” Yet, he believed that it was necessary. In this first section he states how men arrive at the need for government and how it soon becomes necessary to develop a representative government. Thomas Pain explains that in the beginning of government that, “every man by natural right will have a seat.”
In addition to calling out for a representative government with electors providing the opinions that represent the general public, he also states his views on election. In fact, Paine states the necessity for frequent elections in his pamphlet. The reason for these elections is to make sure that the electors are representing the opinion of the public. Through frequent interchanges the electors keep their close relationship with the people.
In Paine’s pamphlet he denounces the monarch and especially hereditary monarchs.
In fact, he uses the story of the Jews requesting a king as an example of how kings are idol creations of the heathens. In fact, he states how the Jews were punished for their want of a king. He further states that hereditary kingdoms make them independent of the people.
He also discusses the fact that hereditary monarchs often leave the people with a king who is supposed to be qualified based on his ancestors. Paine states that it is unwise to consider a person qualified based on ancestors alone. He further states that kingdoms are left without security when the throne is inherited by a minor or when the monarch is in the last stages of humanity.
Although, Paine writes very critically about the monarchy of England even going as far as stating that it affects the entire globe, he still recognizes the need to be civil. He states that for America to continue feuding with Great Britain will be unwise. In fact, trade between these two nations is inevitable. The title of Paine’s pamphlet says it all; his work is still, “Common Sense.”