MUy MUy interesante!
So my revolutions class is reading Thomas Paine right now and it is blowing my mind to see the foundations that our nation was lain...
In Common Sense, Thomas KNEW that to have a successful government you had to know the origins from which the decision was made.
"Absolute governments (tho' the disgrace of human nature) have this advantage with them, that they are simple; if the people suffer, they know the head from which their suffering springs, know likewise the remedy, and are not bewildered by a variety of causes and cures. But the constitution of England is so exceedingly complex, that the nation may suffer for years together without being able to discover in which part the fault lies; some will say in one and some in another, and every political physician will advise a different medicine."
As you can see, he saw the horrible inadequacy of a government with too many systems. His description of 18th century England could be a descritption of the United States Government today. There is no accountability because there is no clear line of responsiblity...
History is great in that way... Just like Aristotle seeing and describing the beginnings of the market system. Sure, it wasn't right and he couldn't understand the whole truth, but TODAY we MUST look back on all these beginnings of things. And understand their origins and their basic characterisitics so that we may better understand the world we live in today. I don't think history gives us the key to the future, but it does give us a microscope into our present. And THIS understanding of the present becomes our future.
In Common Sense, Thomas KNEW that to have a successful government you had to know the origins from which the decision was made.
"Absolute governments (tho' the disgrace of human nature) have this advantage with them, that they are simple; if the people suffer, they know the head from which their suffering springs, know likewise the remedy, and are not bewildered by a variety of causes and cures. But the constitution of England is so exceedingly complex, that the nation may suffer for years together without being able to discover in which part the fault lies; some will say in one and some in another, and every political physician will advise a different medicine."
As you can see, he saw the horrible inadequacy of a government with too many systems. His description of 18th century England could be a descritption of the United States Government today. There is no accountability because there is no clear line of responsiblity...
History is great in that way... Just like Aristotle seeing and describing the beginnings of the market system. Sure, it wasn't right and he couldn't understand the whole truth, but TODAY we MUST look back on all these beginnings of things. And understand their origins and their basic characterisitics so that we may better understand the world we live in today. I don't think history gives us the key to the future, but it does give us a microscope into our present. And THIS understanding of the present becomes our future.