Rethinking Thomas Paine

Thomas Paine said that government is, at best, a necessary evil.

Nothing evil is necessary. If it's evil, by its very nature, it is temporary. By its nature, it must be rejected and abandoned.

Throughout Scripture, God allows for some form of government. With the Israelites once they entered the Promised Land, God established judges to avenge the wrongdoing of the surrounding nations and to restore order in the country, especially when the Israelites fell into captivity because of their idol worship.

God Himself outlines that He is a King, and His Son will reign forever and ever.

The Declaration of Independence states that governments are instituted among men to protect our rights. When they stop protecting those rights and start violating, then the people have a right to abolish that failed government and create a new one.

The point persists: there is a government.

The notion, then, that there should be no government, or that at best it is some kind of necessary evil, is contrary to Biblical truth, sound doctrine, and yes ... common sense.

On this point, I disagree greatly with Mr. Paine. Despite the success of his pamphlets to rally American colonists to the revolutionary cause, his impact and imprint on the government and history of America remained slight afterwards--and I say for good reason.

With those comments listed, let me share this latest post from The Tenth Amendment Center:

Thomas Paine’s The American Crisis A Rallying Cry That Changed History  (ARTICLE | PODCAST)

On December 19, 1776, as the War for Independence stood on the brink of collapse, Thomas Paine published The American Crisis. Beginning with the immortal line of "THESE are the times that try men's souls," it was no mere essay - it was a rallying cry that turned despair into victory. The Crisis was written to inspire a weary army to push on, despite the almost impossible odds they faced. Paine continued, "Tyranny, like hell, is not easily conquered; yet we have this consolation with us, that the harder the conflict, the more glorious the triumph." THE BLACK TIMES OF ’76 At the time of its publication, the Patriot cause was in dire straits. George Washington’s Continental Army had suffered devastating defeats, morale was at an all-time low, and enlistments were rapidly dwindling. Paine himself later referred to this as “the black times of Seventy-six.” Gen. Washington echoed this sentiment when he wrote to his cousin Lund Washington, “I think the game is pretty near up,” expressing his fear that the revolutionary cause would collapse without significant reinforcements. In his correspondence with Abbé Raynal, Paine vividly described those days as "a period of distresses. A crisis rather of danger than of hope. There is no description can do it justice; and even the actors in it, looking back upon the scene, are surprised how they got through." These reflections capture the sheer desperation of the moment, as well as the remarkable resilience that ultimately carried the revolutionaries through. THE VILE CLAIM OF UNLIMITED POWER Yet Paine refused to bow to despair. Instead, he used The Crisis to reiterate the gravity of the situation, emphasizing that no deal could be made with the British as long as they claimed power over the colonies "in all cases whatsoever," a reference to the Declaratory Act of 1766. This act, which followed the repeal of the Stamp Act, declared Parliament's right to legislate for the colonies in all matters, for all time - a claim to power that Paine saw as the height of despotism. He condemned it in the strongest terms, writing, "If being bound in that manner, is not slavery, then is there not such a thing as slavery upon earth. Even the expression is impious; for so unlimited a power can belong only to God." To Paine, the Declaratory Act was not just unjust - it was an affront to both divine and natural law, encapsulating the very essence of tyranny. CONFRONTING TYRANNY AND APATHY Paine’s essay confronted both external tyranny and internal apathy. He scorned those who wavered in their support for liberty, famously denouncing the “summer soldier and sunshine patriot” who would shrink from the service of their country in its hour of need. But his aim was not merely to shame; it was to inspire. Paine reminded his readers of the enduring value of their struggle, writing, “What we obtain too cheap, we esteem too lightly: it is dearness only that gives everything its value.” Paine also appealed to a personal responsibility to future generations, writing that the attitude of a good parent would be “If there must be trouble, let it be in my day, that my child may have peace.” This profound reflection, Paine argued, should "awaken every man to duty" in support of the enduring cause of liberty. By emphasizing the moral and spiritual worth of perseverance, Paine sought to steel the hearts of his fellow revolutionaries. These Are the Times That Try Men’s Souls: Words That Saved the Revolution Article Here: 👉  https://tenthamendmentcenter.com/2024/12/18/thomas-paines-the-american-crisis-a-rallying-cry-that-changed-history/ Video podcast with reference links to read and share: 👉  https://blog.tenthamendmentcenter.com/2024/12/these-are-the-times-that-try-mens-souls-words-that-saved-the-revolution/ REJECTING TYRANNY IN ALL FORMS One of the most powerful themes of The American Crisis was Paine’s rejection of tyranny in all its forms. He made clear that oppression was evil, no matter who wielded it. “What signifies it to me whether he who does it is a king or a common man,” Paine wrote, “whether it be done by an individual villain or an army of them?” To Paine, the crimes of government were often more insidious than those of individuals because they came cloaked in legitimacy.  “If we reason to the root of things we shall find no difference; neither can any just cause be assigned why we should punish in the one case, and pardon in the other.” This timeless principle resonates even today, reminding us that the moral character of an action does not change simply because it is carried out by those in power. DEFIANT IN THE FACE OF CRITICISM Paine anticipated criticism for his unflinching stance against the British crown, and he welcomed it. Defiantly, he wrote, “Let them call me Rebel and welcome. I feel no concern from it.” For Paine, the true rebellion lay in swearing allegiance to a king he deemed “a stupid, stubborn, worthless, brutish man.” His refusal to compromise his principles - even at great personal risk - served as a rallying cry for patriots who faced accusations of treason for their resistance. A CALL FOR UNITY Beyond rejecting tyranny, Paine called for unity among the colonies. Borrowing from a sentiment popularized by John Dickinson’s Liberty Song, he advanced a “United we stand, divided we fall” message. He urged Americans to look past their regional differences and work together for the cause. “I turn with the warm ardor of a friend,” Paine wrote, “to those who have nobly stood and are yet determined to stand the matter out: I call not upon a few, but upon all; not on this state or that state, but on every state." His appeal underscored the necessity of popular action in the face of overwhelming odds. "Up and help us; lay your shoulders to the wheel. Better have too much force than too little, when so great an object is at stake.” THE FOLLY OF TRUSTING OPPRESSORS Paine again reminded his readers of the gravity of their situation. He warned against placing false hopes in the mercy of their oppressors, stating, “It is the madness of folly to expect mercy from those who have refused to do justice.” Warning that the "cunning of the fox" is as "murderous as the violence of the wolf," Paine urged Americans reject all offers of peace from the British as deceit, as long as they continued to claim unlimited power over the colonies "in all cases whatsoever." A STARK CHOICE FOR THE FUTURE Paine’s essay culminated in a powerful call to action. He acknowledged the hardships of the war but painted a stark contrast between the potential outcomes. “By perseverance and fortitude,” he wrote, “we have the prospect of a glorious issue; by cowardice and submission, the sad choice of a variety of evils.” He envisioned a future of “ravaged country, depopulated cities, habitations without safety, and slavery without hope” if Americans failed to stand firm. This dire picture was meant to jolt his readers into recognizing the cost of inaction. But rather than give up, Paine inspired the Revolutionaries to push on. “Let it be told to the future world, that in the depth of winter, when nothing but hope and virtue could survive, that the city and the country, alarmed at one common danger, came forth to meet and to repulse it.” This powerful reflection captures the unity and resilience his words inspired in such a desperate time. THE IMMEDIATE IMPACT OF PAINE'S WORDS Legend has it that George Washington ordered the essay to be read aloud to his troops as they prepared to cross the Delaware River on Christmas night, 1776. While historical evidence for this specific event is inconclusive, there is no doubt that Paine’s words reached a wide audience and inspired many. The Continental Army’s stunning victories at Trenton and Princeton in the weeks following the essay’s publication marked a turning point in the revolution. As historian Travis Shaw aptly put it, "The military victories at Trenton and Princeton changed the course of the war in a strategic sense, but The American Crisis No. 1 provided the ideological motivation that made them possible." As enlistments surged and morale rebounded, it became clear that Paine’s words had rekindled the revolutionary spirit. JOIN TAC, SUPPORT LIBERTY! Let’s keep building the foundation! For as little as $2/month, help us take a stand for the Constitution and liberty - whether the government likes it, or not. (they don’t!) 👉 details here Make a one-time donation here: 👉 https://donate.stripe.com/fZecNzggUaDG3LydR0 A TIMELESS RALLYING CRY FOR LIBERTY Thomas Paine’s work was more than a rallying cry for his time; it was a timeless reminder of the enduring struggle for liberty. His rejection of tyranny, emphasis on unity, and call for perseverance resonate as strongly today as they did in 1776. In commemorating the publication of The American Crisis, we honor not only Paine’s courage and eloquence, but also the principles that fueled the American Revolution. As Paine himself signed off, not with his name but with the phrase “Common Sense,” his words continue to challenge us to stand firm in the face of what is, once again, the largest government in history. Thomas Paine reminds us that while freedom, once lost, is difficult to reclaim, it is never beyond reach when built upon a foundation of courage, resilience, and an unwavering love of liberty. “Though the flame of liberty may sometimes cease to shine, the coal can never expire.” 📖 Read the Article → HERE 🎙️ Watch or listen to the podcast → HERE But this isn’t what the government-run “education” system teaches. At all. That’s why we work so hard every single day to reach and teach more and more people about these essential foundational principles. And nothing helps us get that job done more than the financial faith and support of our members. 👉 You can join us for as little as 2 bucks/month over at https://tenthamendmentcenter.com/members/ Brick-by-brick. Person-by-person. Building a strong foundation for liberty – whether the government happens to like it, or not. (they definitely do not) Prefer to make a one-time donation? Go directly to our processor to pitch in here: 👉 https://donate.stripe.com/fZecNzggUaDG3LydR0 You can also mail a check to: Tenth Amendment Center 4000 Barranca Parkway, Suite 250 PMB 705 Irvine, CA 92604 Thank you so much for reading - and your support. Wishing you and your loved ones a very Merry Christmas! Concordia res parvae crescunt (small things grow great by concord) Michael Boldin, TAC

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Hate Mail (I Love My Haters)

Once in a while, I get some of my favorite kinds of emails: hate mail.

These left-wing bigots think that they can intimidate everyone else with some nasty emails and a bunch of profanity.

Not working.

In fact, it's more winning for me!

I am very much over the target!

Check out this deranged exchange from empty coward "The Evident Truth About You":

---

From: The Evident Truth About You <theevidenttruthaboutyou@gmail.com>
Sent: Thursday, December 18, 2025 1:44 PM
To: Arthur Christopher Schaper <arthurschaper@hotmail.com>
Subject: Re: The Evident Truth About You

 

Quite the opposite, Arthur.

Your constant incoherent rants, Arthur, against gays and lesbians proves that gays and lesbians are way over target.

You certainly have quite the audacity to blatantly lie to people that "President Ronald Reagan campaigned on getting homosexuals out of the classroom", when in fact President Ronald Reagan did the quite the opposite and campaigned against California Proposition 6 of 1978, better known as the Briggs Initiative after its benighted barbarian of a perverse proponent the evil John Briggs, which was an attempt to ban openly gay teachers and openly lesbian teachers from teaching in California public schools.

The enlightened intervention of the great statesman Ronald Reagan was instrumental in the defeat of that perverse proposition.

You are a backward barbaric benighted religious savage who will never amount to even a minuscule fraction of the great statesman Ronald Reagan nor even a disgraceful footnote in history.

You are a lower form of life than even bacteria in sewers, because, after all, even bacteria in sewers serve an ecological purpose, but you serve no purpose at all.

You could only ever serve a purpose if we chop you up into little pieces and throw you to crops and plants as fertilizer, but, then again, crops and plants would die as a result of your toxicity.

You have wasted your life trafficking in hate and it is all that you will ever be remembered for in history if at all.

On Sun, Aug 17, 2025 at 1:44 AM Arthur Christopher Schaper <arthurschaper@hotmail.com> wrote:

Thank you for your email. 

Your incoherent rant proves that I am way over target.

Please use my MassResistance email next time.

Sent from my Verizon, Samsung Galaxy smartphone
Get Outlook for Android

---

From: The Evident Truth About You <theevidenttruthaboutyou@gmail.com>
Sent: Saturday, August 16, 2025 12:34:12 PM
To: arthurschaper@hotmail.com <arthurschaper@hotmail.com>
Subject: The Evident Truth About You

You are a perverted Christian abomination and an evil Christian bully and a confused Christian lunatic and an ignorant homophobic transphobic benighted Christian garbage groomer and an immoral Christian pervert and a sexually-deviant Christian terrorist and therefore an unnatural Christian abnormality who is suffering from your deviant Christian pathology and who is suffering from your mental delusion that is Christianity and who is suffering from your mental disorder that is Christianity and who is suffering from your mental illness that is Christianity and who has groomed children into Christianity and an abusive Christian ideological culture vulture who is abusing children and corrupting children and grooming children and indoctrinating children and propagandizing children into your inappropriate Christian lie and your evil Christian sexual deviance and who is desperate to brainwash children and confuse children and groom children and indoctrinate children and sexualize children through your radical Christian agenda and your horrific Christian brainwashing and your Christian corruption and your Christian exploitation and your perverse Christian grooming and your twisted Christian indoctrination and your Christian morass and your Christian perversion and your Christian propaganda and your Christian tyranny and your Christian vices to smuggle children into your Christian degeneracy and your Christian deviancies and your Christian dogma and your Christian extremism and your Christian immorality and your religious rapist pedophile cannibalistic murderous genocidal garbage grooming slaving death cult mafia that believes that you drink the blood and that you eat the flesh of your religious founder, that has as your religious symbol the torture murder device that killed your religious founder, and that was founded by the brood of a child who was groomed, molested, and raped by your rapist pedophile genocidal garbage groomer god, and is a religious rapist pedophile cannibalistic murderous genocidal garbage  slaving death cult mafia that endorses child mutilation, the genocides of entire nations, slavery in all its various vicious violent vile forms, and the mass murder of children and infants at the command of your rapist pedophile genocidal garbage groomer god, all according to your perverse garbage grooming cult lobby mafia toxic extremely harmful radical inherently controversial offensive provocative uncomfortable emotionally damaging destructive divisive dangerous deadly disease Christian ideology that is increasingly unpopular and on the wrong side of history and an enemy of the free world that condemns you who will burn on the ash heap of history.

You should be deported to Russia, Belarus, Uganda, or any of the other totalitarian Christian dictatorships of the unfree world where you can be among any of your fellow perverted religious abominations and your fellow evil religious bullies and your fellow confused religious lunatics and your fellow ignorant homophobic transphobic benighted religious garbage groomers and your fellow immoral religious perverts and your fellow sexually-deviant religious terrorists and therefore unnatural religious abnormalities who are suffering from your deviant religious pathologies and who are suffering from your mental delusions that are religions and who are suffering from your mental disorders that are religions and who are suffering from your mental illnesses that are religions and who have groomed children into religions and abusive religious ideological culture vultures who are abusing children and corrupting children and grooming children and indoctrinating children and propagandizing children into your inappropriate religious lies and your evil religious sexual deviance and are desperate to brainwash children and confuse children and groom children and indoctrinate children and sexualize children through your radical religious agenda and your horrific religious brainwashing and your religious corruption and your religious exploitation and your perverse religious grooming and your twisted religious indoctrination and your religious morass and your religious perversion and your religious propaganda and your religious tyranny and your religious vices to smuggle children into your religious degeneracy and your religious deviancies and your religious dogma and your religious extremism and your religious immorality and your evil garbage grooming cult lobby mafia toxic extremely harmful inherently controversial offensive provocative uncomfortable emotionally damaging destructive divisive dangerous deadly disease religious ideologies that are increasingly unpopular and on the wrong side of history and share your perverse backward barbaric benighted religious beliefs. You have no place among any of the civilized decent rational peoples of any of the secular liberal democracies of the free world that condemns you who will burn on the ash heap of history.

New Boston Post: Massachusetts Ends Christian Discrimination in Foster Care Following Challenge from Trump DOJ

Massachusetts Drops Gender Identity Requirement For Foster Parents After Federal Warning

Massachusetts officials have removed a controversial gender identity mandate from foster care licensing rules after federal regulators warned the policy violated constitutional protections and conservative legal groups challenged it in court. Massachusetts officials have ended a gender identity mandate from foster care licensing rules after federal regulators warned the policy violated constitutional protections and conservative legal groups challenged it in court. The state Department of Children and Families recently amended its foster parent licensing agreement to eliminate language requiring applicants to support and “affirm” the sexual orientation and gender identity of children placed in their care, according to the Alliance Defending Freedom. The revised policy now instructs foster parents to support the “individual identity and needs” of a child instead. The change follows a federal warning from the U.S. Administration for Children and Families and a lawsuit brought by Alliance Defending Freedom and the Massachusetts Liberty Legal Center, two conservative legal organizations that argued the mandate violated the First Amendment rights of religious foster parents. Massachusetts adopted the amended policy on an emergency basis late last week, making the change effective immediately. Federal regulators had previously informed the state that the policy raised serious constitutional concerns and would be subject to investigation. The previous foster care rule drew national attention after multiple families said they lost their licenses for refusing to sign the gender identity agreement. Among them were Massachusetts couples Greg and Marianelly Schrock and Nick and Audrey Jones. The Schrocks had their foster care license revoked in June after declining to agree to the policy. Another couple, Heath and Lydia Marvin, said their license was revoked earlier this year after they sought religious accommodations. The Marvins said they had fostered eight children under the age of four since 2020 before losing their certification. State Department of Children and Families commissioner Staverne Miller said the agency’s primary focus is child welfare, while also ensuring religious liberty protections for applicants. “The Department of Children and Families’ top priority is providing a safe and supportive home for all children in foster care,” Miller said in a written statement. “We are also committed to ensuring that no one is prevented from applying or reapplying to be a foster parent because of their religious beliefs.” The Alliance Defending Freedom says the state's policy change occurred as a result of communications to state officials from federal officials. The documents say the amendment was intended to prevent escalation by the Administration for Children and Families while continuing to meet the state’s needs for foster homes. Alliance Defending Freedom senior counsel Johannes Widmalm-Delphonse said the revised policy removes a barrier that excluded religious families from participating in the foster care system. “Massachusetts has told us that this new regulation will no longer exclude Christian and other religious families from foster care because of their commonly held beliefs that boys are boys and girls are girls,” Widmalm-Delphonse said in a written statement. He said that families affected by the previous policy are eager to reapply. However, he said the lawsuit will continue until the state demonstrates that it fully respects religious freedom among foster parents. Federal officials welcomed the policy shift but cautioned that its real-world impact remains to be seen. The policy reversal comes as states don't have enough foster parents. Critics of the former mandate argued it reduced the pool of available foster families by imposing ideological requirements unrelated to child safety or care.

 

DO NOT TALK: Disarm and Dismantle (Fighting for the Second Amendment)

DO NOT TALK: Illegals suck, Greta morphs, & Climate whatever-it-is

Merry Trump-Mas with Nicki Minaj

I love this sht! 🤣🤣🤣

Merry Christmas!
pic.twitter.com/U0HT9yhqSM

— Gunther Eagleman™ (@GuntherEagleman) December 13, 2025

Japan Enforcing Immigration Laws

🚨🇯🇵 JAPAN DEPORTATIONS UNDERWAY

They are not messing around 💥

Child of Migrants - "I was born and raised in Japan"
Japan - "You're Indian, time to go home"

Japan is keeping its country for its own people
Is it time we did the same? pic.twitter.com/uXGBiWKlXV

— Basil the Great (@BasilTheGreat) December 12, 2025

Pro-Trump Fed Governors Predicted Tariffs Would Not Hurt American Economy

 

by John Carney - Breitbart Economics Editor Alex Marlow - Breitbart Editor-In-Chief

December 11, 2025

How Two Fed Governors Saw Through the Tariff-Inflation Panic Back in April, when tariff panic gripped Washington and Wall Street, Federal Reserve Governor Christopher Waller stood nearly alone. While economists warned of a 1970s-style inflation spiral, Waller calmly argued that the new tariffs would create a one-time jump in prices, not a new inflation regime. By September, newly confirmed Fed Governor Stephen Miran joined the cause with sophisticated quantitative analysis showing monetary policy was roughly 200 basis points too restrictive. Nine months after Waller’s initial call, the latest Summary of Economic Projections (SEP) tells us something simple: The Federal Reserve has become Wallerite—and perhaps even Miranian. The inflation hawks have stood down. And the data suggest Waller and Miran were right all along. Fed Governor Christopher Waller is seen at the Federal Reserve Board open meeting in Washington, DC, on Oct. 24, 2025. (Al Drago/Bloomberg via Getty Images) The evolution is visible in Chair Jerome Powell’s own words. At the May 7 press conference, with tariff panic at its peak, Powell hedged heavily: “If the large increases in tariffs that have been announced are sustained, they are likely to generate a rise in inflation.” He used variations of “we don’t know” eighteen times. But by June 18, Powell’s language became structured: “A reasonable base case is that the effects on inflation will be relatively short-lived—a one-time shift in the price level.” He laid out clear conditions for persistent inflation: tight labor markets, unanchored expectations, and broad demand pressures. In other words, Powell was now speaking Waller’s language. As summer data rolled in, that framework proved prophetic. Miran’s Quantitative Case When Miran joined the Board, he brought rigorous analysis supporting Waller’s concepts. In his September 22 speech, Miran showed how immigration policy changes would lower both inflation (reduced rental demand) and the neutral interest rate—the level of interest consistent with stable inflation. He calculated how tariff revenue would increase national saving, further reducing the neutral rate. He explained why deregulation would expand potential output faster than actual output, creating disinflationary pressure. Most importantly, Miran explained the mechanics: Trade policy generates relative price changes, not aggregate demand shocks. Without tight labor markets or unanchored expectations—neither of which materialized—one-time price increases wouldn’t become persistent inflation. The Fed establishment wasn’t buying it. Miran dissented in September, arguing for 50 basis points instead of 25. Three months later, the Committee’s projections would vindicate his analysis. The Pass-Through That Never Came to Pass Between June and the December SEP, the Fed watched for signs tariff inflation was becoming embedded. They didn’t materialize. Labor markets cooled gradually without overheating or crashing. Inflation expectations remained anchored. Wage pressures moderated. Services inflation continued “grinding down” toward 2 percent. The tariff pass-through that “every forecaster” expected to add “two or three more tenths, or four more tenths”? By December, Powell was talking about “a couple tenths or even less than that”—barely a rounding error in the broader story of disinflation. Rental inflation played out exactly as Miran predicted. With immigration policy sharply reducing housing demand, new tenant rent inflation fell to around one percent—far below elevated official statistics. The December Summary of Economic Projections tells the story in numbers. Look at Figure 3.C showing the distribution of inflation projections. In September, participants spread widely on 2026 forecasts, with a meaningful tail at 2.6 to 2.8 percent. That’s well above target, suggesting persistent tariff effects. By December, that upper tail vanished. The distribution tightened dramatically around 2.4 percent. The median projection for 2026 fell from 2.6 percent to 2.4 percent—a 20-basis-point drop that came almost entirely from former hawks revising down their views. The participants most worried about tariff inflation moved the most. The Committee converged on the framework that Waller articulated in April and that Miran quantified in September. The Intellectual Journey When unprecedented trade policy shifts created genuine confusion, the Fed established a theoretical framework (Waller), added quantitative rigor (Miran), watched the data (Powell), and adjusted forecasts as evidence accumulated. The core insight, now validated: Tariffs are relative price changes, not aggregate demand shocks. Without tight labor markets, unanchored expectations, or excessive demand, one-time price shifts don’t become ongoing inflation. The Fed’s models, built on anti-tariff prejudice and assumptions without supporting evidence, overstated pass-through. They underweighted modern dynamics, especially competitive pressures forcing cost absorption. Miran’s September dissent looked radical at the time, arguing for aggressive cuts when conventional wisdom said wait. But his analysis showed policy was 200 basis points too tight when properly accounting for neutral rate changes. Three months later, the Committee moved materially in his direction. By December, Powell could state matter-of-factly: “If you get away from tariffs, inflation is in the low 2s.” The one-time price shift theory held up. Tariffs could move prices once without changing the underlying inflation trend. Markets now price in a Fed seeing limited inflation pressure ahead. The December SEP projects 2.4 percent inflation next year, and 2.2 percent in 2027. Policy can continue normalizing. The soft landing remains intact. Chris Waller and Stephen Miran got the economics right when it mattered, when they had the courage to articulate an unpopular view at peak tariff panic. In April, Waller was the optimist. In September, Miran added quantitative firepower. By December, the Fed was full of Wallerites. The data made them that way.