Mark Steel: Thomas Paine 1 of 6

[MenOfLetters]

Mark Steel is a torchbearer of Tom Paine's legacy, a determind foe of clericalism and militarism. Funny too.

[fjordland]

@MenOfLetters: Idealists are getting thin on the ground these days, we do have plenty of fear-mongers though.

[blackamoor61]

I hate how modern lefties like Steel have hijacked Paine for their own ends and how right-wingers flock to Burke in knee jerk opposition to him . Paine was neither right nor left , nor an atheist . He was, put simply the greatest political thinker ever in the west. Paine was serial debunker of self-serving establishment myths who offered practical, common sense solutions to the issues of the day, an enemy of big government and champion of the little guy vs the state. No wonder he died poor.

[zjohn89]

Thomas Paine was not an Atheist. He was a Deist. Instead of listening to this moron go read his books, they are very educational.

[Mulholland107]

@zjohn89 Mark never said he was an atheist, he states what his contemporaries said of him, that he was accused of atheism, which is true.

[fistfulofknowledge]

Poor Paine, if only his vision of the world had at least existed in one of the two revolutions. Too radical for the American, not radical enough for the French. He truly is one of the fathers of wisdom and common sense

[TheIngloriousFiction]

Doing an essay on Thomas Paine for year 12 history and this was so helpful!

[GoblinXXX]

I love this guy.

[RhondaH]

This is fantastic. Can't wait to watch the rest.

[greenjoker713]

Right Wingers are two things: cowardly and reactionary. They retreat behind vote bots and ad hominem attacks because they know their arguments are flaccid when confronted with reason and logic. Thank you for posting The Mark Steel lectures for us "traitors to the Crown" (Reference to Thomas Paine, a sadly forgotten Founding Father) to enjoy. Shame American PBS does not produce something like this.

[Bobcatt40]

Im from Thetford and i now live in America. I'm just like Thomas Paine. except im very right wing. Mind u i dont know too much about Thomas, maybe he was right wing too. I wonder

[shikamaru234]

Paine was a proper lefty, he supported Progressive Taxation, Universal Education, Minimum Wages and other radical views for his time.

[GhostVirusx90]

fucking idiot, your nothing like paine you scumbag, ya ignored pig fucking scum. bloody hell what nob head you are bobcatt!

[Bobcatt40]

well if u read what i wrote i am like Thomas Paine u twat. open yor fuckin eyes and read.

[MrMichuzz]

i really want to download "The Most Valuable Englishman Ever" documentary with keneth grifith,, about thomas paine... anyone know where i can find it ,,,, ??

[TheWilliamcale]

who knew a trot could be so eloquent?

[TheIkaraCult]

best mark steel lecture ever

[Nades129]

WHAT! why the fuck is this 3 stars!

[fjordland]

Right wing rating Bots, they tell me.

[SirHappyThe1st]

Brilliant lecture on one of the most fascinating rebels in history.

Thanks for the upload.

This is up there with Mark Steel Lord Byron and Sylvia Pankhurst episodes.

5 stars as always.

[TXatheist]

Thanks Rundstedt1 for bringing these videos to my attention.

[randompalindrome]

Why does this have such a low rating, ah, quality.

[fjordland]

You would have to be a little anal to give a video 90 bad ratings because of picture quality

me thinks.

[randompalindrome]

so you think it's some sort of glitch?

I'm just guessing. I gave it 5*

[fjordland]

I use to use WMV conversion when I did this I am now making mpeg4 conversions the sound at least is much better which is important as this Mark Steels Videos are based on his Radio Lectures.

Quality is also reflected computer It comes out better on a MAC from what I see. but yes its fair to say the Quality would be about a 5

[overmind25]

It is a form of creationist/"right wing" censorship. They are called rating bots I believe. They are basically a hack that gives 50 1 stars.

[overmind25]

It effects all your videos.

[fjordland]

Rating Bots Suck. I don't even think they watched the clips. Why did they "Bot" the Mary Shelly lecture? maybe Frankenstien scared them as Children!

[SciPanFreethinker5]

Meh, the creationists hate education.

[fjordland]

Indeed :-) But I think its Mark Steel who is the Target

from what I learned from other Channels

[Gringoman911]

Because he makes baby Jesus cry.

[fjordland]

Why would a bunch of people do a concerted Mass attack on this Mark Steel Lecture Rateings?

if you don't like him leave an honest comment.

[Rahab111222]

Yes, I noticed about the ratings. Very strange indeed, random shadowy internet hacks playing with the ratings and not offering in a single criticizm.

Perhaps the great great ancestors of Paine's christian and federalist hecklers? /shrug

[horanpk]

All of these lectures are the biz

[theGetRealGuy]

A rare find of Brilliance!

[WarningDontReadThis]

More please : D These are great!

[fjordland]

"Carefull Reggie, I didn't get where I am today by saying Earwig instead of Thank You" :-)

[cultusstultus]

lol, reggie perrin reference!

[sweetpotos]

No I haven't heard his Russian Revolution lecture. Has it been uploaded? I would love to hear it!

[fjordland]

He was in a way, it's his radio lecture on the Russian Revolution (one I have) but I am sure Mark can do more

with a bit of encouragement!

[sweetpotos]

I wish he would do a lecture on Lenin. I know he's a controversial figure but honestly, how can you leave out Lenin if you plan to do biographies on revolutionary figures who changed the world?

[fjordland]

Have you heard his Russian Revolution Lecture?

[fjordland]

It is interesting how Mark shows how unlikely events and people can change the world for the better.

One day it might be your turn!

[kitefighter]

Thank you for this one. Mark Steel is brilliant in these series, and the Thomas Paine is probably the best of all.

[Futurecast]

Fantastic, more please!