Thomas Paine, the original secular progressive

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At the end of the day no American, especially a founder would be ignorant enough to believe in open borders, apologetic foreign policy, corrupt out of control spending and the other nonsense that some liberals and progressives adore, furthermore Thomas Paine abhored big Government almost as much as being ruled by a corrupt King, so already his political positions are directly opposite of what you're trying to create here.

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Thomas Paine was a progressive thinker but that does not instantly mean he's a member of the 'progressive' party or a liberal because liberals are just socialists (or too dumb to know they're in the American Socialist Party). I would see 'Ronald Reagan on socialized health care' to hear about the liberal/socialist situation.

These political parties existed AFTER his death, he's neither a progressive or a liberal.

That's makes as much sense as calling him an atheist (He's a diest)

[emonerd826]

check out Funbobbasso's youtube profile.

I think his "thomas paine" character doesn't reflect his views.

[maddogtannen1966]

Abovegroundassminer

He say come on baby say you love me 5,6,7 time's till he hit paydirt!

Messed his "kooban" mind up on "cronic weed".....

While still high and spooged; He assimulated in a group of gay Mexican Bandito's under the code name Fart-F^cker.

Beware; This person is a danger to the community...

[AlbaGoBragh]

No one, absolutly no one, from Thomas Paine's time were "progressives".

Progressivism stems from the late 19th century study of Karl Marx. It permeated American political thought in the early 20th century. It inspired Teddy Roosevelt, Woodrow Wilson, Herbert Hoover, FDR. It can be seen more recently in LBJ, Carter, Clinton, the Bushs and Obama.

It is a bipartisan effort to destroy individual liberty in favor of collectivism. This is exactly what our founders opposed and fought against.

[LHMcalindon]

Has anyone read any of Paine's books? I particularly recommend The Age of Reason. You shall find his full opinion on religion there. But yes, he believed in a god, but not a personal god. And he was a secularist, you should find an account of that in the second edition of Common Sense.

[LHMcalindon]

Tom Paine was a secularist, and a deist. He deplored religion-"All national institutions of churches, whether Jewish, Christian or Turkish, appear to me no other than human inventions, set up to terrify and enslave mankind, and monopolize power and profit".

[montesooma]

notice how he says "national institutions of churches" therein is the key to what your reading my friend, he did not deplore religion, he didn't like govnment made churches.

man, be careful with written materials, you might hurt yourself.

[Bloggotheclown]

I have read Age of Reason several times, myself. Might I suggest you check a copy out at the Public Library. You may change your mind.

[burrcorley]

The Age of Reason is extremely critical of all religion. Read it some time

[RandomNarwhal]

YOU GUYS,

THOMAS PAINE WAS AN AVOWED DEIST AND A POLITICAL RADICAL!

READ SOME OF HIS WRITINGS FOR ONCE! Common Sense, The Age of Reason, American Crisis, etc.

[mamishbr]

He would hate both parties and their lack of responsiveness to "the people". He would prefer a one term limit for all of them and without the huge pension for the rest of their life.

[electroman076]

THOMAS PAINE

A SECULAR PROGRESSIVE????

WTF.......................... WHRE THE HELL DID YOU GET THAT IDEA???

Is this what the Commie Lib Union Teachers are telling you kids?????

Thomas Paine was a RELIGOUS MAN YOU FOOL!!!!!

[LHMcalindon]

No, he wasn't.

[TheArcaneAvenger]

"The Vatican is a dagger in the heart of Italy" Thomas Paine

He was to smart to believe in the God of Israel.

[montesooma]

the vatican doesn't believe in the God of israel, so your point is mooooot

[TheArcaneAvenger]

All three major religions worship the same God...don't know if you know this.

[VidCylinder]

Said by a religous man. Like you're an objective source. LOL

[RedBeetle]

Thomas Paine's best work, "Common Sense" was based on the authority of Scripture, but the author of this vid conveniently left this out. Just read chapter 2 of "Common Sense."

During the U.S. Revolution, Paine advocated Calvinist political thought, as did Jefferson. They were recruited by Calvinist Samuel Adams.

Paine's "Age Of Reason" comes almost two decades after the U.S. Revolution completed its Calvinistic work. The French Revolution failed, for it really was a secular movement.

[VidCylinder]

Revisionist, revisionist...blah, blah blah

[Rahab111222]

Thomas Paine was certainly a progressive and social liberal.

You guys need to get over this Orwellian language conditioning, the word 'liberal' isn't a bad thing.

[DontDoItToJulia]

This twisting of definitions is just an example of how this term "liberal" has been hijacked. So corrupt and deceitful.

Liberal originally meant a liberal society, now it means a liberal government. These are opposites.

Stop with the double-speak.

[koscheii666]

........What was the music?

[CharlieBBoy12345]

sounds like Robert Johnson to me

[koscheii666]

Thanks CharlieBBoy...

[NewCommonSenseBook]

As a 5th grade teacher the most important thing I can instill in students: "little voices" make dramatic impacts on events. That's Paine's greatest gift to our country. His pamphlet ommon Sense, gave a vision to all colonists during great indecisive fear, 176 days before the Declaration. It still speaks to us today. Paine needs to be recognized as an intrical part of the American miracle.

Author of "The Elementary Common Sense of Thomas Paine: An Interactive Adaptation for All Ages"

[danoftherepublic]

Im sorry to have to give a Thomas Paine vid 1 star. But your conclusion is ridiculous. just because of these few quotes on religion, doesnt make him a liberal. In fact, his small government and low tax, etcetera, ideas put him in line with classic Goldwater Conservatism. Conservatism was based on the founders ideas, please read Common Sense and then Conscience of a Conservative and then the Constitution. You'll change your mind pretty quick, I can tell you that. Thanks for trying though.........

[Seiku]

The word liberal has evolved. People think of it has a bad word now a days without understanding its root and multiple definitions.

Theres a quote that goes something like: Conservatives worship dead liberals.

[DontDoItToJulia]

'Liberal' hasn't evolved. It was hijacked. The classic liberals based their philosophy on private property, free markets, and extremely limited government for the protection of liberty. Does that sound like something you see today in someone called "liberal"? It is not a matter of adding to it, it has been turned inside out to become the antithesis of the original meaning.

As K2Tanner a few comments back put very simply, "In his day he was a liberal. Today he would be a libertarian".

[Seiku]

I'm sorry, I meant the classical liberal changed to something else. I didn't mean the modern word liberal is an evolved form of the classical liberal. I guess evolved was a poor choice of word. But I agree with you.

[Seiku]

And by changed to something else I mean another word or name etc.

[DontDoItToJulia]

Just to be clear, my second comment wasn't directed at you, it was a response to glancing up at the video summary and seeing "Radical libz and secular progressives like Thomas Paine". This is a blatant attempt at distorting history, and quite sinister.

If both my comments are read, the first sounds hostile as well, it wasn't. Thanks for replying.

[Seiku]

I understand, no worries and thank you.

[K2Tanner]

Not entirely anyway. I just got done printing one of his books and it ate up 2 ink cartridges.

[K2Tanner]

Paine would be disappointed at todays government. He would be happy at some things but he would be disappointed at the size and scope of the government and the blurring line that separates church and state. He would be happy to see some government programs like social security, public schools, and minimum wage for workers. He would also be satisfied with how far we have come in equality for women and minorities, but I am sure he would still like to see more. He is not inline with todays libs.

[ZomBrad]

Paine couldn't have been a liberal.....

....he wasn't desperately anti-God, nor anti-American >.>

Comrade Paine just doesn't sound right...

[Drugsdrugsdrugs]

I don't think Thomas Paine was a radical liberal, you're doing him a major injustice in that regard. I don't see many liberals demanding the retention of national sovereignty, or the removal of the central banking system, both of those Paine adhered to. In fact many liberals believe in more taxation, government programs, gun control, all of those egregiously anti-Paine. Mostly, Paine wanted a republic, and none of the liberals i've heard of have that in mind. Maybe you're different, though.

[K2Tanner]

In his day he was a liberal. Today he would be a libertarian.

"That government is best which governs least."- T-Paine

[XxAlmightyStanxX]

We can debate all day what the dead would be like today if they were still living, but claiming that Paine would be a libertarian is just as bad as the author who claimed he's be a progressive liberal.

Also, you're sooooo wrong with the quote. It wasn't Paine, it was Thoreau, who was a philo anarchist.

[Rahab111222]

Paine rawks!

[Northgrant]

Edmund Burke really showed Paine who was boss. Burke was prophetic.

[K2Tanner]

Personally I am a Christian but T-Paine is just awesome. I like his approach of having his own views on God and thats how I think really. I just happen to think that Jesus is pretty cool too.

[K2Tanner]

haha Wow, old comment. I don't really agree with too much of the bible anymore. I agree more with thomas paine and deism/agnosticism.

[A60stock]

In Nerhu's letter of 1932 to Indra Ghandi " Jesus and the Christian", He writes " It is strange to think of the rebel Jesus preaching non-violence and ahimsa and a revolt against the social order, and then to compare him with his loud-voiced followers of today, with their imperialism and armaments and wars and worship of wealth. The Sermon on the Mount and modern European and American Christianity - how amazingly dissimilar they are!"

I am sure Paine would approve.

[Repsaj67]

So far there is no Thomas-Paine-biopic, there is no movie portraying the eventful life of Thomas Paine. Please help to have one made!

[DoubtingKurt]

what director could we write to about it? IM totaly serious about getting a real film made about him, not some corny documentary.

[Repsaj67]

Maybe David Gordon Green who already made a biopic about the life of George Washington? John Gray who made one about Abraham Lincoln? Richard Attenborough who made one about Mahatma Gandhi and Charlie Chaplin?

[Repsaj67]

Obviously a Tom-Paine-biopic was planned, but so far not realised:

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cinecon(.)com(/)news().p hp?id=0105163

[A60stock]

I have read the script for the film, its awful and gives a Hollywood idea of Paine. Paine was not a nice guy, he annoyed many of his friends. His persona was not alluring, he was dirty and smelly and drank. None of this would suit Hollywood.

[Repsaj67]

This is the usual slandering propaganda which started already after Paine had published _The age of reaseon_. Another reason to make a biopic about Paine: To set things right.

[stuffisgd]

yes, but way ahead of his time.

[mamishbr]

Hollywood would totally didstort his beliefs and portray him as a liberal. It would be such a dishonest movie to furthur their own agenda,

[mindtraveler2350]

No man in Hollywood has what it takes to even use Thomas Paine's name. I wonder... Could Kurt Russell? Doesn't much look like Thomas Paine (and I can't really see him without the trademark awesome mullet like after Stargate), but he was Snake Plissken! That's gotta be worth something.

[pismo10]

Paine would have HATED todays liberal thinking of giant central government which controls far too much.

[DoubtingKurt]

yes, but he would have hated what the republican party has turned into (that was the good party back then; the two parties have switched roles).

[PosVibeMerc]

Read Thomas Paine for yourself, don't believe what others tell you about him. It is the way he would have wanted it.

I still want you to read Paines work yourself, but an example I can give you on how Paine isnt an SP is . . .

Paine believed that everyone was entitled to their own opinions. The SPs attack you personally if you disagree with them.

[ArcaneKarma]

SPs and TWs attack each other. that's just how people are, and if you can't see that then take the blinders off.

[darris321]

sorry read that wrong lol

[darris321]

i think he was more libertarian than liberal...

[revjimbob]

I'm re-reading The Rights of Man just now. I have been reading a lot of Christopher Hitchens recently, and they argue and write in a similar style. I know Hitchens is a huge fan of Paine.

[poneil69]

Learn about Thomas Muit,(Moore).Scottish counterpat to Tom Paine.

[fab757]

Thomas Paine was a high-minded and brilliant man. He truly understood what real freedom is. The vast majority of American citizens and politicians today have have a perverted and skewed idea of what freedom is. And it will only get worse...

[stratmandoug1974]

1.Thomas Paine was the greatest American who ever lived.

2.Probably would be neither republican nor democrat but a libertarian.

[dasdatmitch07]

thomas paine had a different agenda than what you describe as secular progressives. if anyone wants to take away morales its radical secular progressives. once you understand what a secular progressive then apply it to what the agendas of present day secular progressives are or must be. now read the communist manifesto... this is quite a scarey realization. down with radical idealism.

[climb426]

Your post makes no sense really. But here's what Tommy Boy would say to you...

The Bible is a book that has been read more and examined less than any book that ever existed. [The Theological Works of Thomas Paine]

..but the Bible is such a book of lies and contradictions there is no knowing which part to believe or whether any... [Thomas Paine, The Age of Reason]

Tom Paine, radical idealist...

[mamishbr]

Maybe you have not taken the time to STUDY the Bible, because just reading it really doesn't do much good. It's really many books written in many styles in different times. Thomas Paine would never have been a secular progressive. He understood that our rights come from God, not Obama, Or Mao, Or Stalin.

[LHMcalindon]

Paine used to be a Quaker, he had a full knowledge of the Bible. READ THE AGE OF REASON.

[TheArcaneAvenger]

idiot.

[VidCylinder]

Well given you were not around in Paine's time and do not know him personally you cannot presume what Paine thought or believed, can you? But religious zealots always believe they know more than everyone else.

[charlesdarwin54]

Someone tell me who was signing the blues in the background; I would to own that album! Does anyone know who that was?

[climb426]

Robert Johnson, Delta bluesman...

[Moviebro]

I have some of his writings.Cannot wait to read it when I have some time.He's my hero.

[Rhonda9]

I love the works of Paine. 'Age of Reason' was one of the most influential and impressive things I have ever read. 'Common Sense' was thought to have spurred on the Revolution. He was a great man and more people need to know about him today.

[WARLORD1863]

Progressives, maybe. Radical libs? Don't think so. Patrick Henry, George Washington, Thomas Jefferson, and so forth wanted a change but were not radically liberal. In fact, I think they held even more conservative views than most conservatives today. Traditional moral values still reigned supreme. Video scrolled too quickly, otherwise a nice piece on the one man that could be deemed a radical liberal.

[BeatBuddy]

Here we go again with another conservative trying to hijack history. The framers of the Constitution were indeed radical and they were indeed liberal. They established a form of government that was unprecedented in the annals of history. Poor Tom Paine, ostracised and despised for his virtues.

[mamishbr]

Paine's ideas were radical to people who'd never known anything but a monarchy. But he was a believer and a moral man. He only wanted a government big enough to protect citizens so they could control their own lives. Just enough government to protect us from other governnents and crook and murderers among us.

[revjimbob]

Nice little short piece on the great man.

[doggzma]

Great little video. Only complaint is it scrolls too fast for easy reading. Not too much of a problem as Robert Johnson is a favorite of mine, so I just watched it until I was sure I'd gotten it all. To thechattanoogan, thanks.