Paine Vs. Marx
The debate over the distribution of property and the unnatural inequality it produces has long troubled political thinkers, as Jean-Jacques Rousseau mused in his Discourse on the Origins of Inequality: It is obviously contrary to the law of nature, however it may be defined for a child to command an old man, for an imbecile to lead a wise man, and for a handful of people to gorge themselves on superfluities while the starving multitude lacks necessities. (Rousseau, p. 869) Thomas Paine wrote in his classic The Rights of Man that he wished to "[restore] justice among families by a distribution of property..." (Paine, p. 177) This sentiment was seemingly echoed by Karl Marx in The Communist Manifesto when he spoke of the "...the crying inequalities in the distribution of wealth..." (Marx, p. 34). However, a more careful review of the texts in context (For these authors cannot be read in a political vacuum, the ramifications of the environment in which their arguments originated must be considered) will reveal to us two arguments that while similar in theory, differ in implementation. Paine's proposal for redistribution of property was seen by some as radical for his time, (a time devoid of any progressive tax scheme of note) but sti
ll in line with leading liberal bourgeois political values of the day. Marx's argument, formed nearly a century later, after the success of the middle class in seizing a sizable share of power from the old nobility has rendered many of Paine's aspirations a reality. While Marx saw the proletariat revolution as the next step in the evolution of society, Paine would argue that society had already reached an apex in the manifestation of liberal democracy, and Marx's attempt to further equalize society would serve to destroy the very bourgeois political values that Paine had utilized to advance what Marx termed the capitalist bourgeois rebellion against feudal society. I would argue that while in practice the irreconcilable differences between Marx's communism system and Paine's liberal ideology make them incompatible, the theoretical similarities between Marx and Paine can best be seen through their respective context, reasoning, and criticisms. By straying so far to the left of the political spectrum, Marx has in effect, lost sight of the basic value inherent in liberal ideas and rights without which no truly equitable society can hope to exist. In colloquial terms, Paine argued for a leveling of the playing field, while Marx sought to level the playing field by adjusting the height of the players (I'm sure that Czar Nicholas II would agree that this proved just as painful in execution as it sounds in the above metaphor). Communism asks of men the impossible, to not be men; specifically to act not in their self-interest, but in that of the common good. And it is here that Paine and Marx come into conflict, as Paine held that: "Every man wishes to pursue his occupation, and to enjoy the fruits of his labours and the produce of his property in peace and safety, and with the least possible expense. When these things are accomplished, all the objects for which government ought to be established are answered." (Paine, p. 136) Marx believed that government could transform men into an
Some common words found in the essay are:
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Approximate Word count = 1342
Approximate Pages = 5 (250 words per page double spaced)
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