The Description of the Truth of This Time in Our Country's History

The description of the truth of this time; the transition from the 20th century through the first decade of the 21st century; in our country's history will need no great and intricate new philosophy of government, nor any new grand theory of history, nor any new dazzling tool of economic theory. The description of the truth of this time in our country's history has already been written and lies plainly in the words of Thomas Paine, from the "Rights of Man".

And so it was that...

"If there is a country in the world, where concord, according to common calculation, would be least expected, it is America. Made up, as it is, of people from different nations,* accustomed to different forms and habits of government, speaking different languages, and more different in their modes of worship, it would appear that the union of such a people was impracticable; but by the simple operation of constructing government on the principles of society and the rights of man, every difficulty retires, and all the parts are brought into cordial unison. There, the poor are not oppressed, the rich are not priviledged. Industry is not mortified by the splendid extravagance of a court rioting at its expense...."

"A metaphysical man, like Mr.(Edmund)Burke, would have tortured his invention to discover how such a people could be governed. He would have supposed that some must be managed by fraud, others by force, and all by some contrivance; that genius must be hired to impose upon ignorance, and show and parade to fascinate the vulgar. Lost in the abundance of his researches, he would have resolved and re-resolved, and finally overlooked the plain and easy road that lay directly before him." pgs. 134-135

The "Rights of Man" was presented to George Washington with these words:

"To George Washington, President of the United States of America

Sir,

I present you a small Treatise in defence of those Principles of Freedom which your exemplary Virtue hath so eminently contributed to establish.- That the Rights of Man may become as universal as your Benevolence can wish, and that you may enjoy the Happiness of seeing the New World regenerate the Old, is the Prayer of..

Sir,
Your much obliged, and Obedient humble Servant.

THOMAS PAINE"