Painting by George Romney

French philosopher Voltaire once observed, “Common sense is not so common.” Thomas Paine trusted it anyway and helped inspire a revolution built on it.

In January 1776, Thomas Paine published Common Sense, a pamphlet that spoke in plain, direct language ordinary colonists could understand. English by birth, Paine became an extraordinary patriot. His words cut through chaos at one of the most critical moments in the nation’s founding.

He distrusted blind loyalty to leaders, insisting instead on reason, fairness, and accountability in government. His warnings fit today’s moment and are worth another look.

Honor the law, not the ruler—
Paine’s rule is simple: no one is above the rules. When we excuse “our” leader for breaking them, we invite the next leader to do worse. A healthy republic asks one question first: does this action strengthen the law, or just the person in charge?

Representation must be real, or trust collapses—
Paine wanted broad, honest representation. Trust breaks when voters believe the maps are rigged, the rules shift midstream, or money drowns out the voice of the people. We need fair districts, clear rules, open counting, routine audits, and consequences for anyone who cheats.

What’s necessary is never easy—
Outrage is easy. Reform is hard. Real reform spells out the basics: who’s accountable, by when, how success will be measured, and if the policy doesn’t work, come up with another plan.

The media should inform, not incite—
Paine used pamphlets to persuade and explain, not to inflame. Today, our “pamphlets” move at the speed of a swipe. Use them to spread facts, cite sources, correct mistakes, and lower the temperature. If the message only makes people angry, it isn’t leadership, it’s provocation.

Real strength is steady, reliable, not theater—
Power is a responsibility to protect liberty, not a trophy for the leader. In examining any policy, ask: Does it secure rights, uphold law, and keep officials accountable? If not, it’s theater.

A republic runs on participation, not autopilot—
Participation—voting, serving locally, reading documents, accepting lawful outcomes, all are necessary to maintain a nation. Saying “they’re all corrupt” is surrender. Paine’s answer is work: show up, argue in good faith, and keep the system honest.

Character is essential—
Our ideals only matter when they act as a brake on friends as well as foes. Calling out opponents is easy; character shows when we hold ourselves to the same rules. That’s how trust is built: one decision at a time.

If we prioritize honesty over loyalty and work to repair the process before selecting winners, we honor our trust with each other and the republic Paine envisioned.