Oh my God that might be the first recorded instance of the Somali argument
ಠ_ಠ
he also didnt want jews to be allowed to live in america.
For more, see Tom Woods’ blog post: http://www.tomwoods.com/blog/be-happy-with-your-cabbage-and-navy-beans-citizen/
(A brief digression: my favorite Franklin story comes from 1729, when debate arose in Pennsylvania over whether the colonial government should engage in yet another round of paper money inflation. Franklin came to the assistance of the inflationists in government by writing A Modest Inquiry into the Nature and Necessity of a Paper Currency, which helped get the inflationary policy through the Assembly. In return, guess whose print shop got the contract to print the money? Franklin noted that his “friends” in the Assembly, “who conceived I had been of some service, thought fit to reward me by employing me in printing the money, a very profitable job….”)
Patrick Henry
A lot of people admire him for the “Give me liberty or give me death” speech, but as Adam Kokesh said, that’s basically saying that you’re at the mercy of your oppressor and they have the authority to decide whether you get liberty or you don’t.
That seems to be the reality of the situation - then and now. Patrick Henry just acknowledged it.
but we are at their mercy, so give me liberty (which they have the authority to do by stopping their actions) or give me death. I also dont think he was suggesting on giving them an ‘easy’ death…
he was just being a true gentlemen by giving them the choice.
Benjamin Rush, because he is crazy.
Seriously though, Thomas Paine because he actually stood by his beliefs throughout his life and no one showed up at his funeral because of it.
Well, Common Sense is a great pamphlet.
Hmm.
George bush washington was good.
Age of Reason still blows my mind. Whenever I read it. Thomas Paine was a good stylist.
But really, how can he compare to a man who thought being black meant that you were infected with the leprosy? That is some really crazy stuff right there. In a way, Benjamin Rush was ahead of his time, he was already creating biologically racist junk before it really caught on.
“Oh yes, King George the Second.”
He wasn’t so bad. They loved him before the French-Indian war XD
Hamilton is the most fun
Paine is a nut job
Nutty people are ALWAYS the most fun.
The instant formal government is abolished, society begins to act. A general association takes place, and common interest produces common security. - Thomas Paine
what further evidence do you need?
I don’t see why the quote is controversial. He’s making the point that property is conventional as opposed to natural, while still leaving space for some sort of natural right.
If I had to pick one, I’d go with Franklin. Guy might be the greatest American of all time not just founding father.
@Acrobat
I wouldn’t say the quote is controversial. Just about everyone agrees with it, and the result is a tyrannical federal government and a herd of voting cattle that believes it’s fine to agress against another as long as it is best for the public welfare.
Well, I meant controversial in this localized context. Obviously is enjoys currency among many people beyond this message board.