her side, we would be excluding the necessary component of tradition and example. Without the component of precedents and tradition, legitimacy would be lost. The rights are constantly changing through time. Rights which are appropriate in one decade do not necessarily mean it is applicable in the next. Mans morals and expectations of each other change drastically through history. So how is it possible to accept a forever binding right? Rights are often looked upon as rewards for abiding to the regulations set out by the higher party. In my mind rights are not earned, but they are rather an extension of our social contract. Rights must be applicable to all individuals. Paine’s looks down upon the monarchical system. He feels that the English government should reform to a constitution and be modelled on the American Government. The monarchy, in Paine’s mind, is expensive and worthless and proposes a removal of labels in England. Paine brings a good notion to play in this argument. Although in my day and age, the American government is literally tearing its country apart, I feel it is much better than having titles of higher importance. In this case these labels resulted in the French Revolution and has been known to initiate war between two countries and even worse with the state. Labels intrude upon mans will for independence. If labels are in existence, then man will concentrate more upon pleasing that individual, than on the well being of the state. This is an invitation for disaster. In conclusion, Paine’s beliefs had a greater effect on me than Burke’s. Though there is no single solution to any of these problems, I think that if we can treat them while keeping Paine’s views in mind, we wouldn’t be able to solve them entirely, but it would lead us in the right direction. ...
