Paine vs. Palin (and Obama and Pelosi and…)

When Thomas Paine penned Common Sense in 1775 it quickly became one of the largest print successes in American history. In light of its overwhelming sales, Paine donated his royalities to George Washington’s Contintenal Army saying,

“As my wish was to serve an oppressed people, and assist in a just and good cause, I conceived that the honor of it would be promoted by my declining to make even the usual profits of an author.”

Now fast forward 236 years to an era when politicians make millions selling and promoting their books on their “visions” for our country. Shouldn’t we expect the same communal gesture as Paine from our modern day “public figures”? Perhaps then their motivations would be better aligned with ours…