Preface & Preamble

The Common Sense Papers

Preface

The year is 2026 and something revolutionary and unthinkable is happening. On the eve of the 250th anniversary of the signing of the Declaration of Independence, a visitor from the nation’s founding era returns to examine the work of his successors. Thomas Paine arrives at the U.S. Capitol to see that nothing is functioning as his fellow founders had intended. And what’s worse, there is no Common Sense to be found anywhere - not in the House of Representatives, not in the Senate chambers, not in the rooms for subcommittees, not in the White House. Everywhere there is talk of corruption, grievance, and regulatory abuse of natural rights. He is disgusted and disheartened due to the performative nature of politics, natural rights that are frequently under attack by misused government power, and the perpetual divisions of the two-party machinery that accomplish almost nothing of major value for the American people. After a quick cosmic call to his fellow founders - Madison, Hamilton, and Jay, authors of The Federalist Papers - Mr. Paine proposes dusting off his old pamphlet-printing machine to publish a new and vital collection of essays entitled The Common Sense Papers. The combined essays would be the beginning of a citizen-led movement to bypass and outwit the fossilized two-party system entrenched in American politics that is mismanaging the halls of power in government and causing heartache and suffering for the American people. If a new Common Sense message can go viral and sweep the nation, there is a chance to reboot the political operating system of American politics so that government of the people, by the people, for the people, can be reestablished and thrive in the United States.

Well, Thomas Paine isn’t really coming back, but his revolutionary ideas and methods are useful for dealing with the toxic political gridlock of our current moment in history. He felt that no government distant from the people has the right to negate the power to self-govern. He believed that British rule was holding back the colonies and independence would offer better rewards. It now seems that two-party divisions are holding back our country. Regarding the original American crisis, Paine wrote, “Tyranny, like hell, is not easily conquered; yet we have this consolation with us, that the harder the conflict, the more glorious the triumph.” He offered a vision for America once independence was secured. His methods mostly involved the use of his pen – laboring as an activist, revolutionary, and propagandist. He donated the proceeds of his pamphlet toward the Continental Army, thus helping to fund the cause for which he was advocating. Using similar ideas and methods can help address the political challenges in America today.

Title page from Thomas Paine's pamphlet Common Sense, 1776. Library of Congress, Washington, D.C. Encyclopædia Britannica

The ideas for these essays have been on my mind for more than 12 years, but something in July 2022 stirred my thinking that the time had come, the moment is now, and the promise of America cannot be crushed any longer. The Common Sense pamphlet by Thomas Paine tipped American colonial public opinion toward declaring independence as a people in 1776. The Federalist Papers, written from 1787-1788 as 85 separate essays, laid out the ideas behind why the adoption of the U.S. Constitution to create a large federal republic was necessary and good. It’s time for a modern Common Sense message to address our current problems in national politics. The intent of The Common Sense Papers is thus 2-fold:

1) to introduce and galvanize a revolutionary, citizen-led movement to enable greater independence from the two-party national political structure that dominates American political life;

2) to establish a common vision for an operating platform available to Independents, third-party candidates, and select major-party candidates that is consistent with the U.S. Constitution that can bypass the two-party system for ballot access, campaign contributions, and improved governance of federal institutions – to unify the country in a way that elects better candidates into Congress who will use common sense to solve critical problems for the common good.

This is a bold and highly ambitious proposal for an entrepreneurial experiment in American politics. I am writing these essays (with the help of others) to propose the launch of a crowdfunded political movement to change national politics in dramatic ways within 5 years. The Common Sense Papers serve somewhat like an investor pitchbook for creating both a social welfare organization and a political action committee for all American citizens to launch a major reform movement. The movement must be powerful enough to place independent and third-party political candidates for federal office into elected positions. These elected reformers will revitalize a functioning democratic republic according to constitutional principles. If successful, the results will benefit our nation in profound ways for generations to come. Not unlike the Revolutionary War and the Civil War eras, which were difficult periods of constitutional founding and renewal, if the cause is just and if the majority of the American people respond favorably, we shall prevail!

Common Sense 250 Preamble

We the People need a well-functioning political system so we can all get along, keep life’s playing field fair for everyone, keep our communities safe and sustainable, protect our land from global bullies, allow people to earn a living wage to cover food, housing, transportation, & healthcare, and enjoy living in freedom to pursue “the good life” for ourselves and our kids.