Why Must We Choose Between Two Evils?

Drawing wisdom from Thomas Paine's revolutionary text "Common Sense," this episode examines how the founding father's arguments for American independence powerfully mirror our current political predicament. Two hundred fifty years later, we find ourselves in a remarkably similar position – universally acknowledging government dysfunction while feeling trapped within the system.

Across the political spectrum, Americans share a deep conviction that something fundamental has gone wrong. The left rises up against injustice through movements like BLM, while the right demonstrates against perceived government overreach. Leaders as different as Bernie Sanders and Donald Trump identify identical problems but prescribe opposite solutions. Meanwhile, the people stand divided between political parties that increasingly fail to represent their complete values.

The episode highlights America's continued self-sufficiency – we lack "nearly nothing" to provide abundantly for all citizens, yet political decisions have hollowed out our manufacturing base, abandoned towns, and stagnated wages. Both parties bear responsibility for these outcomes, pointing fingers while washing hands clean of culpability. The result? A binary system forcing impossible choices: "To vote against abortion, you must vote for war in foreign lands. To vote against foreign war, you must vote for abortion."

Just as Paine urged colonists to break free from British rule, today we may need to declare independence from a two-party system that has "usurped the reins of government" from the people. While change seems daunting, Paine's wisdom reminds us that all great transformations initially appear strange and difficult before becoming familiar and agreeable. The question remains: Will we continue putting off this unpleasant but necessary business, or finally reclaim our liberty?

Listen now and rediscover the revolutionary spirit that once transformed a continent. Then join the conversation – how might we apply Common Sense to fix our broken politics?

Chapters

• 0:00 Paine on Inevitable Separation
• 0:35 Universal Agreement That Government Fails
• 1:09 America's Self-Sufficient Potential
• 2:56 Fear of Change and Political Slavery
• 5:26 Two-Party System Forcing Impossible Choices
• 6:54 Breaking Free from Party Control

Transcript

Taylor: 0:01

Common Sense Applied Today, chapter 4. Payne starts this chapter with the statement I have never met with a man, either in England or America, who has not confessed his opinion that a separation between the countries would take place one time or other. Applied today. This universal sentiment is shared by nearly all, no matter where you fall on the political spectrum. The idea that our current manner and function of government is failing its people is acknowledged by all. In 2020, blm and Antifa, normally associated with the left, rose up in opposition to established government practice and policy they decried. In January 2021, another group associated with the right similarly let their disfavor be known. Few people, but those with vested interest in the current way of things, disagree that something is wrong. Both leading politicians such as Bernie Sanders and Donald Trump agree and identify the same problems with government, though both prescribe different solutions. Paine makes note of a similar condition in 1776 and points out some obvious points to subdue the fear of those hesitant to take on self-rule, saying it is not in numbers but in unity that our greatest strength lies. Yet our present numbers are sufficient to repel the force of all the world. The composition of the continental America is sufficient in nearly all ways to provide for itself. True, today, as it was then, we lack nearly nothing to provide an abundant life for all the country's inhabitants. What little we lack we can make up for in free and fair trade. Our present numbers, paine explains, are so happily proportioned to our wants that no man need be idle. A common call of right and left is the jobs that are sent to foreign lands. Both left and right point to the other as the cause. A close examination by the people, however, reveal that both left and right have been complicit in the schemes that have left whole towns abandoned, factories left dormant and wages stagnant, while inflation ever rises. Can we but leave posterity with a settled form of government, independent constitution of its own? The purchase at any price will be cheap. No doubt this was accomplished. The American experiment succeeded. Posterity with a settled form of government, independent constitution of its own. The purchase at any price will be cheap. No doubt this was accomplished. The American experiment succeeded.

Taylor: 2:10

But the time has come again for a self-imposed course correction, to again retake our liberties, which have been converted to privileges by the state. Ronald Reagan expressed that the loss of liberty is only one generation away, that we must be ever vigilant, as Paine states, our inability to take on the burden now is using posterity with the utmost cruelty, because it's leaving them the great work to do and a debt upon their backs from which they derive no advantage. Such a thought to leave the work of liberty to a future generation is unworthy a man of honor and is the true characteristic of a narrow heart and a peddling politician. Paine spent some time explaining the position that America could provide for her own protection, that building ships and armament would provide internally an economy and at once protection. No country on the globe is so happily situated, so internally capable of raising a fleet as America. Tar, timber, iron and cordage are her natural produce. We need not go abroad for nothing, same as today the raw materials we lack in nearly nothing. Our reliance of foreign supply is mainly the result of politician policies selling our future for nothing. We ought to view building a fleet or any major industry metals, medicine and manufacturing as an article of commerce. It is the best money we can lay out. A job kept at home, no matter the expense, is exponentially more valuable than a job shipped overseas. Any cost saved now is lost within a generation. As shipbuilding was used by Payne to explain, today, we can insert learning, every piece of the economy. These are circumstances which demand our attention and point out the necessity of naval protection, further stated and adopted.

Taylor: 3:54

Wherefore, if we must hereafter protect ourselves, provide for our own economy, why not do it for ourselves? Why do it for another? For when our strength and our riches play into each other's hands, we need not fear no external enemy. Resolution is our inherent character, and courage hath never forsaken us. It is fair for us, as Paine once asked. Why is it that we hesitate? Paine observes, a nation's greatest achievements are often before they are formed, when liberties are not dissuaded. But if success settles in a city can become complacent.

Taylor: 4:28

America, paine explains, is full of land with lots of opportunity to expand. Today, unlike then, all land has been grabbed, controlled by a man or possessed by a government with no plan to expand. Some western states have populations crammed in small places, with vast tracts of land owned by the Fed and kept from the people in great part. As populations are condensed, a sense of scarcity easily sets in, even though we have great numbers. The way land is owned and developed becomes tighter and tighter with each generation, leading men to believe they have more to lose. We are in a state, as Paine describes, of London, notwithstanding its numbers, submits to continued insults with the patience of a coward. The more men have to lose, the less willing they are to venture. The rich are, in general, slaves to fear and submit to courtly power with the trembling duplicity of a spaniel.

Taylor: 5:22

Today, americans have in near total degree done what George Washington warned against by political parties being enabled to subvert the power of the people and to usurp for themselves the reins of government. Pain statements apply and by that means have been compelled to receive laws from their conquerors parties, instead of making laws for themselves. All things can serve their purpose, and benefit must be weighed against risk. Regardless of how we got here, parties have become binary, a choice between right or left, both subject to maintain their own distinct orthodoxy, eliminating the ability to pick and choose only the best, like religion of Painsday, which would function as a party of a type he said. I fully and conscientiously believe that it is the will of the Almighty that there should be a larger field for our Christian kindness, similar to parties where we all have one way of thinking. Our religious dispositions would want matter for probation, and on this, liberal, I look on the various denominations among us to be like children of the same family, differing only in what is called their Christian name.

Taylor: 6:29

But neither party suits you. You must compromise some value for the sake of another. The party's ultimate purpose is simply to maintain power. The cost to the people be damned. Time and time again, one party blames another, like two hands that wash each other. Neither is capable on their own and must attack against each other. To vote against abortion, you must vote for war in foreign land. To vote against foreign war, you must vote to support abortion. It is agreeable by all I meet that government needs a course correct and from the parties which steer her. Payne's conclusion rings true today. These proceedings may at first appear strange and difficult but, like all other steps which we have already passed over, will in a little time become familiar and agreeable. And until an independence is declared from the parties, the continent will feel itself like a man who continues putting off some unpleasant business from day to day, yet knows it must be done, hates to set about it, wishes it over and is continually haunted with the thoughts of its necessity.