Journal Entry 1 by mottoncouthUSA from West Valley City, Utah USA on Sunday, November 10, 2002

I'm part of the twin_cities_bookclub. This month was my turn to pick. So this is my pick. When I am done with this book, I have someone that wants to read it. 

Journal Entry 2 by mottoncouthUSA from West Valley City, Utah USA on Friday, November 15, 2002

Well, I've made it through the first SIXTY pages of text, without reading a word of the famous pamphlet entitled common sense. The editor, Isaac Kramnick, wrote an introduction to this book, almost as long as the main body of the work. Although I found it quite informative, I believe that this detracts from the book itself. Maybe I'm just reading it wrong. Maybe I should have read the main body first and then read the introduction.

In the section entitled "Remarks on the English Constitution" Paine makes a supposition about a colony in "some sequestered part of the earth...". In that, he reminds me of the film "Cast Away" starring Tom Hanks. Although in Paine's scenario, he is talking about multiple people, he reminded me of how much the character in the film longed for the goods and servives provided by society, not for the protection against vice provided by government.

When Paine states: "Here there is the origin and rise of government; namely a mode rendered neccessary by the inability of moral virtue to govern the world, here too is the design and end of government viz. freedom and security." in essence he says that no matter what else we may want the government to do, it cannot, because that is not the purpose of government.

From reading Common Sense one can draw many parallels between the English Constitution and the Constitution of the United States. England is governed by a king or queen, whereas the United States has an executive (president, elected by the electoral congress usually in direct proportion of popular vote, and occaisonally by the Supreme Court (appointed by the past presidents)). England has the house of Lords appointed by the king or queen, and the United States have a Senate elected by the populace (as mandated by non-existent "one man, one vote" clause in the 15th amendment (judicail activism by the supreme court, created law, unconstitutionally). The Senate used to be elected by the regional legislatures. The present interpretation of the 15th amendment is erroneous in my view.

Under the section heading "Of Monarchy and Heriditary Succession" dangerous parallels may be drawn between the account which Paine took from the Holy Bible in which Gideon denies the temptation of the Jews to make him king, and todays executive in the United States government, George Walker Bush. Whereas Gideon denied the temptation of royal honor uponst him, Mr. Bush, has taken upon him the power and authority, given him, by congress, to declare war. It is my belief that this authority, given by congress, was not theirs to give, and therefore was an unconstitutional act of congress. Although Congress has the power to declare war, they do not have the right to transfer that power. Bush asked for this power, and recieved it. Although I believe him to be well intentioned, I know that the road to hell is paved with that maleable material.  

Journal Entry 3 by mottoncouthUSA from West Valley City, Utah USA on Monday, November 18, 2002

I'm liking this book more and more. I've just finished reading the section entitled "THOUGHTS ON THE PRESENT STATE OF AMERICAN AFFAIRS." So here are my thoughts on that.

Paine states that no one would war with america unless the British King engangled her in conflict. This may be the basis for the "no entagling aliances" clause found in the U.S. Constitution.

P. 87 "As parents, we can have no joy, knowing that _this goverment_ is not sufficiently lasting to ensure anything which we may bequeath to posterity: And by a plain method of argument, as we are running the next generation into debt, we ought to do the work of it, otherwise we use them meanly and pitifully." When I read this passage, Immeadiately, I think of today's situation with Social Security. We put ourselves in debt today, so that the people can get benefits (of today's and future labor). Doing so enslaves the future to pay for today.

TO THE LIBERTARIAN PARTY: Paine states "Our prayers have been rejected with disdain: and only tended to convince us, that nothing flatters vanity, or confirms obstinacy in Kings more that repeated petitioning..." http://www.freestateproject.org

Paine says that the law is king "But lest any ill use should afterward arise, let the crown at the conclusion of the ceremony be demolished, and scattered among the people whose right it is" Ahem, cough cough... the war on drugs, the draft, the income tax, the federal reserve act, need I go on? All these are crowns to be smashed and scattered. 

Journal Entry 4 by mottoncouthUSA from West Valley City, Utah USA on Tuesday, November 19, 2002

"OF THE PRESENT ABILITY OF AMERICA WITH SOME MISELLANEOUS REFLEXIONS"

It is interesting to note, since T. Paine is discoursing on Naval Affairs, that in the U. S. Constitution, there is only provision for a standing Navy during peacetiem. Yet we continue to have a standing army, air force, marine corp, and many other paramilitary forces. Technically, we are at peace, since no declaration of war has been made by Congress.

"Hemp flourishes even to rankness, so that we need not want cordage." Food, fuel, fiber!

pp 110-111 I agree with Paine's assertions for proportional representation in the state (provincial) assembly, and even the lower house of the federal legislature. However, the federal Senate, was designed to be representative of the STATES. When we switched to democratically elected Senators, our country lost much of what made it great. "Democracy is a house built on shifting sands" ~Socrates

When Paine advocates publishing a manifesto telling foreign governments, what we have done and that we are open for trading, while simultaneously announcing our rebellion, it reminded me of a computer game I used to play called Conquest of the Empire III. In that game, If you didn't have enough forces squelching dissedents in occupied territories, the residents partial to some other government, would proudly announce to the world "The people of Utopia have found your rule so revolting, that they have revolted." It was a fun game.

When Paine speaks to the issue of reconcilliation, he makes his best case for independence. 

Journal Entry 5 by mottoncouthUSA at -- By hand or by post, Bookray/ring or meet in Saint Paul, Minnesota USA on Tuesday, November 19, 2002

Released on Tuesday, November 19, 2002 at to friends in Saint Paul, Minnesota USA.

I have given this book to my brother in-law, to facilitate his reading it for the cities_bookclub meeting. I have asked him to "catch and release". 

Journal Entry 6 by TopherBear from Saint Paul, Minnesota USA on Thursday, December 12, 2002

I received this book from my brother-in-law as part of a book club.

First, the introduction is almost as long as the book. But it was very interesting to put Common Sense in historical context. Paine's ideas intrigued me, although his logic seemed a little topsy turvy, deriding the logic of others and then using similar logic to support his own demand for independence.

I was surprised that manifest destiny was such a prevalent theme.

I plan to pass this book along ot another friend in the book club.