Doesn't history show us that we don't like to be ruled by a leader who lives clear across the ocean?

Question

I do believe one of the points of the American Revolution, and Thomas Paine's "Common Sense," was that it is dumb to be ruled by a leader who lives on the other side of the world. We didn't particully like his rules....;)

DON'T YOU THINK THAT WE ARE BEING A BUNCH OF HYPOCRITES? ;) ( I just wanted to make sure you saw the real question...)

This is just for discussion....;)

Answer 1

Paine's writings comment on absentee leadership and government that is not responsive to the needs of the people. At the time it took several weeks to cross the Atlantic and many of those responsible for creating the laws that governed the colonies had never been to them. If you look at Paine's writings for the French Revolution, you see many of the same arguments, but instead of physical distance in leadership, Paine refers to class distance. Had the British Parliament and King George III been doing what was in the best interest of BOTH England AND the Colonies, Paine would have had a small insignificant audience and would have been forgotten by time.

In the modern world it is almost possible to eat breakfast in New York and dinner in Australia. With high speed air traffic, the internet, and satellites, it is possible to communicate with all parts of the world with ease. This makes organizations like the European Union and the UN possible. One of the reasons the US was able to expand as rapidly as it did was the rapid acceptance of the advances in communication technology. The argument that the US is being hypocritical in sponsoring revolutions in sovereign nations around the world because of Thomas Paine's writing is ludicrous.

Also considering Thomas Paine's philosophies to be integral in American political thought is stretching things. "The Crisis" and "Common Sense" were instrumental in the Revolution. They did much to get the masses to support the Revolution and support moral during the war years. However Paine left the Colonies to return to Europe either before the war ended or soon there after. Hardly the actions of a committed American. Paine's religious views, which he espoused in "The Age of Reason" alienated him from all his friends. The only reason he wasn't executed in France was the intervention of James Madison. The only thing Paine was successful at was rabble rousing. He failed out of school, got fired from being a tax man in England, and to my knowledge never held a steady job. The corner stones of American philosophy can be found in the writings and actions of Washington, Madison, Adams, Jefferson, etc. You can see how their opinions evolved over time to adjust to changing realities. Jefferson blatantly reversed his position on expansion with the Louisiana Purchase. To call Americans hypocrites for not following the writings of a man who was only involved peripherally with the creation of the country and not allowing for evolution of thought is rather harsh.


The Iraq War was initially supported by a majority of Americans. Whether or not the War was/is 'just' or 'necessary', the American tenets of self determination and democracy were followed, and thus can't be considered hypocritical.

Answer 2

Thomas Paine and others were speaking of a ruler that didn't care about the population as a whole, just the ones close to them.

Taking your thoughts and applying them logically, we shouldn't have Hawaii as a state. We also have permanent territories like The Marshal Islands, Puerto Rico, and various other islands.

We care about and are trying to take care of those that are under our nominal rule overseas. We are not taxing them without representation. We're not mandating their religious bounds...

There are next to no true similarities between the founding of our nation and that of the countries we are currently in.

Answer 3

i imagine everybdy could stay their lives by ability of those 2 regulations? ~~~ Cool, the international needs better authoritarion fascists! Xtian? - concepts your man or woman buisness ~~~ like the man 'could' who rushes for your help once you're contained in the line bleeding? somewhat? i might want to guess you'll sing a diverse song then; "Heeellllp meeee, pleeeeease????" to boot, who're YOU to inform that this is, fact, that it no longer suited to you, lord, and 'could' be diverse, in accord such as your 'better efficient' plan? looks somewhat ineffective and prideful. - do not do some thing stupid ~~~ And one better short-sighted conceitedness. First, stupidity is contained in the interest of the beholder, in YOU! Segundo, everybody has the 'stupid gene', it pops up anytime it does, better to three, on occasion, a lot less to others. third; "perhaps this is the curvature of area that, like a exciting-domicile reflect distorting our personal mirrored image, we assume of strangers." - Mythopoeicon imagine about it What in existence do not stick with to those 2 regulations ~~~ some mature previous infantile 'regulations'. 'regulations' might want to be irrelevent, basically; "Do what you comprehend to be properly, say what you comprehend to be genuine, and leave with faith and endurance the outcomes to god!" - F.W. Robertson "Be the replace that you want to work out!"

Answer 4

i dont know what news stations you've been watching but who ever said america is trying to rule iraq? we're helping them set up their own government so they can become self sufficient. yes we will have some influence upon them but ultimately it is their country. the situation with the american revolution and the iraq was are in no way comparable.