A New Tom Paine Would Take Us Back to Our Roots

“We Need a Modern Thomas Paine” (Opinion, Aug. 4), by J. William Gibson, was right on, but didn’t go far enough. There is the question of whether the necessarily radical extension of his material could be published in the mainstream media. We are oscillating to and fro (e.g., Democrats versus Republicans) within a narrow and outdated conceptual framework.

The U.S. is now societally an old, exhausted and derelict nation, delusionally driven by a search for external and internal villains and detached from reality by layers of government, industrial and media obfuscation. Most dangerous is the disconnect between our social thinking and our advanced technology. Is it not now time for a new American (this time nonviolent) Revolution?

Kenyon B. De Greene

Woodland Hills

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I concur with Gibson’s call for a modern Thomas Paine to lead an organized opposition movement in protest of our current political, economic and social predicaments. It would be a cruel irony, however, if this modern-day rebel followed Gibson’s advice by advocating increased campaign finance restrictions and heightened government involvement in the economy.

After all, production and distribution of Paine’s influential pamphlet, “Common Sense,” would likely be diminished 60 days before an election under McCain-Feingold [campaign finance law], and Paine would likely point out that our 10,000-page tax code and heightened government regulation of the economy have been the best protectors of corporate elites.

Nicholas Buccola

Thousand Oaks

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Gibson’s opinion is good; however, I was disappointed that he did not elaborate more on who Thomas Paine was and his contribution to the success of our Revolutionary War. I doubt if many people today know. His sacrifice and devotion to boosting the spirits of a ragtag army of the common people who wanted freedom has pretty well been ignored. Paine quit his job and, as an unpaid civilian, went from camp to camp, battle site to battle site, to encourage George Washington’s army to hang on and not be discouraged. It was only after the war that the Congress recognized his contribution and rewarded him with a meager pension.

Many people didn’t like what he preached and ridiculed him. Children would follow him, throw rocks at him and shout, “Paine, Paine, damn be his name!” He was a true revolutionary, but after all, we were fighting a war for independence. I recommend people read his books “Common Sense” and “The Rights of Man.”

Fred Tuck

Los Angeles