From Thomas Paine’s “The Rights of Man”
Paine explored the temporal aspect of rights and laws and described them as being generational, where laws are created by one generation to govern them during that era, but becoming less applicable, even obsolete, as that generation fades and a new one is ushered in. In the present era of increasing public apathy and widening social stratification how can legislative bodies operate in the detached and objective manner that is required in order to create new laws in an appropriate and equitable manner? If politicians have come to predominantly represent an elite class that’s constantly retreating from a lower class majority, how can the process of public representation be inherently for the greater good of all? Apathy through distraction and ignorance through fear will be greatest challenges to the new generation, who must revise the laws in this time of struggle. I’m not sure if the entity that is global politics is reaching maturity, but the grievances and abuses between nation-states certainly demands that individuals, countries and people, reconsider their place in the system of national and global rights.
Regarding Paine’s distinction between the two modes of government, election/representation and hereditary succession, I would simply like to point out an anecdote that I came across in other readings. According to Burke’s Peerage, the bible for royal and aristocratic genealogy, 34 of the 43 American presidents in history can be genetically traced to Charlemagne, a monarch of France. Is there a pseudo-monarchy operating behind the scene in US politics? Since talent and ability are not hereditary, and there are over 300 million people from all cultures in the United States today you would think a little more genetic diversity would be displayed in the genealogy of American presidents. Add to that the immeasurable degree of corruption within any electoral process and you can see the peculiarity of the observation. In addition, throughout this week’s readings we see the connections between divinity and the equality of man, the rights to rule and even the legislative process. Since the beginning of social organization, rulers have often claimed divine appointment and early European monarchs were no exception. Are Bush’s continual reminders of his ‘God-given duty’ any different?
last301
Paine explored the temporal aspect of rights and laws and described them as being generational, where laws are created by one generation to govern them during that era, but becoming less applicable, even obsolete, as that generation fades and a new one is ushered in. In the present era of increasing public apathy and widening social stratification how can legislative bodies operate in the detached and objective manner that is required in order to create new laws in an appropriate and equitable manner? If politicians have come to predominantly represent an elite class that’s constantly retreating from a lower class majority, how can the process of public representation be inherently for the greater good of all? Apathy through distraction and ignorance through fear will be greatest challenges to the new generation, who must revise the laws in this time of struggle. I’m not sure if the entity that is global politics is reaching maturity, but the grievances and abuses between nation-states certainly demands that individuals, countries and people, reconsider their place in the system of national and global rights.
Regarding Paine’s distinction between the two modes of government, election/representation and hereditary succession, I would simply like to point out an anecdote that I came across in other readings. According to Burke’s Peerage, the bible for royal and aristocratic genealogy, 34 of the 43 American presidents in history can be genetically traced to Charlemagne, a monarch of France. Is there a pseudo-monarchy operating behind the scene in US politics? Since talent and ability are not hereditary, and there are over 300 million people from all cultures in the United States today you would think a little more genetic diversity would be displayed in the genealogy of American presidents. Add to that the immeasurable degree of corruption within any electoral process and you can see the peculiarity of the observation. In addition, throughout this week’s readings we see the connections between divinity and the equality of man, the rights to rule and even the legislative process. Since the beginning of social organization, rulers have often claimed divine appointment and early European monarchs were no exception. Are Bush’s continual reminders of his ‘God-given duty’ any different?
last301
posted by Spencer at 4:36 PM
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