Thomas Paine's theory (in Common Sense) - Essay Example

Conversely, the government refers to an institution with a sole purpose of protecting the people from their own vices. The originality of the government can be traced to man’s evil. In this case, government is a needed evil to man. Apparently, the sole purpose of the government is the protection of life, property and liberty. Therefore, the judgment to a government should be based on its ability to fulfill this goal (Wilensky, 2010). Paine uses several imageries to pass his point. He considers a scenario in which some people are isolated in some island from where they are very detached from the rest of the rest of the society.

With time with people will have to develop relations with one another and make laws that govern them. According to Paine, when persons are allowed to make their own laws, they will become much better off. This is because they pride of assuming responsibilities for the creation of their laws. He sees this as the best way for the American colonists to use. Therefore, the British reign over America and the whole system of government of Britain is a total flaw. The system used by the British to run their government is full of complexities and contradictions.

Although, it claims to provide a reason system of the government, the British system is impractically wrong (Paine, 1995). Paine is also concerned with hereditary succession and monarchy notions. Naturally, man was born as equals and therefore such distinctions that occur between a king and a subject are unnatural. Although the world was created without kings, the ancient Jews insisted to have a king. Paine argues that God did not approve to this but just allowed them to have kings. Later on, God descended his wrath on the Jews because of their insistence on having a king.

Paine therefore opines that monarchy as an institution has its origin from sin that is condemned by both the Bible and God. He goes ahead to condemn hereditary succession by arguing that even with the decision of having a king, the child of the king has no legitimate authority of becoming a future ruler. Hereditary progression has been a source of many evils like civil war, incompetent kings and corruption. Theoretically, America has thrived under the British rule. This makes them mandated to be under the rule of a king.

However, the practical reality is that America has since evolved and no longer needs help from the British. Therefore, the claim that Britain protected America and should automatically seek allegiance is false since its mission is majorly to protect its economic interests. In most of Britain’s colonies, the British have been carrying out several attacks. Consequently, they do not deserve any loyalty from America. These attacks leave so little gains to the colonies. According to Paine, America or any other British colony can better do commerce with other countries in the rest of Europe.

However, this will require that America first becomes independent. Past problems cannot be solved if colonies continue with their attachments to Britain. The only solution now for America and other British colonies is to seek independence. Otherwise, their problems will continue to persist (Paine & Slaughter, Common Sense and Related Writings, 2001). As a solution to this kind of mess, Paine offered to provide the form of government that can be adapted by