PAINE PLATO PHARAOH
As I read his witty replies to "The Forester's Letter 3," in Thomas Paine's COMMON SENSE, the 2016 disadvantages of Paine's vaunted republican form of government are made very plain and apparent in the British exit from the European Union, which was done by popular vote, a supposed virtue of Paine's republican form of government!
The same over exuberance for republican forms of government, as reflected in "Brexit," may be said to show in the 2016 popular vote in Colombia, where the people again rejected, so shockingly to both sides, peace accords, voted upon by them after 50 years of civil war!
Paine writes in 1776:
"Nature seems sometimes to laugh at mankind, by giving them so many fools for Kings; at other times, she punishes their folly by giving them tyrants; but England must have offended highly to be curst with both in one. 'Rousseau' proposed a plan for establishing a perpetual European peace ; which was, for every state in Europe to send Ambassadors to form a General Council, and when differences happened between any two nations, to refer the matter to arbitration instead of going to arms. This would be a kind of European Republic: But the proud and plundering spirit of Kings hath not peace for its object.--They look not at the good of mankind --They set not out upon that plan: And if the history of the Creation, and the history of Kings be compared together, the result will be this--that God hath made a world, and Kings have robbed him of it."
P.80-81 (1955, 1984).
Of course, here in the post-Civil War, United States of America, we long-defamed, black descendants of slaves, soldiers, freemen, and contraband, who saved this land from destruction and dissolution, although now "free," have very well known that "white" popular voting is tyranny of the majority over long vilified minorities, us in particular!
Indeed, Plato's "Republic", rather than Rousseau 's republicanism offers a better way out than either kings or rank democracy. Plato's model proffered the Philosopher-Kings form of governing, whereby those of virtue, knowledge, wisdom which is modeled upon the ancient Egyptians' form of governance, can rule equitably, righteously for all!
Wednesday, October 5, 2016
PAINE, PLATO, PHARAOH
PAINE PLATO PHARAOH
As I read his witty replies to "The Forester's Letter 3," in Thomas Paine's COMMON SENSE, the 2016 disadvantages of Paine's vaunted republican form of government are made very plain and apparent in the British exit from the European Union, which was done by popular vote, a supposed virtue of Paine's republican form of government!
The same over exuberance for republican forms of government, as reflected in "Brexit," may be said to show in the 2016 popular vote in Colombia, where the people again rejected, so shockingly to both sides, peace accords, voted upon by them after 50 years of civil war!
Paine writes in 1776:
"Nature seems sometimes to laugh at mankind, by giving them so many fools for Kings; at other times, she punishes their folly by giving them tyrants; but England must have offended highly to be curst with both in one. 'Rousseau' proposed a plan for establishing a perpetual European peace ; which was, for every state in Europe to send Ambassadors to form a General Council, and when differences happened between any two nations, to refer the matter to arbitration instead of going to arms. This would be a kind of European Republic: But the proud and plundering spirit of Kings hath not peace for its object.--They look not at the good of mankind --They set not out upon that plan: And if the history of the Creation, and the history of Kings be compared together, the result will be this--that God hath made a world, and Kings have robbed him of it."
P.80-81 (1955, 1984).
Of course, here in the post-Civil War, United States of America, we long-defamed, black descendants of slaves, soldiers, freemen, and contraband, who saved this land from destruction and dissolution, although now "free," have very well known that "white" popular voting is tyranny of the majority over long vilified minorities, us in particular!
Indeed, Plato's "Republic", rather than Rousseau 's republicanism offers a better way out than either kings or rank democracy. Plato's model proffered the Philosopher-Kings form of governing, whereby those of virtue, knowledge, wisdom which is modeled upon the ancient Egyptians' form of governance, can rule equitably, righteously for all!