Tom Paine Redux March 30, 2022 Yes, he wrote Common Sense. But he also wrote The American Crisis, whence this quote (thank you, Jamie Raskin): December 23, 1776 THESE are the times that try men’s souls. The summer soldier and the sunshine patriot will, in this crisis, shrink from the service of their country; but he that stands by it now, deserves the love and thanks of man and woman. Tyranny, like hell, is not easily conquered; yet we have this consolation with us, that the harder the conflict, the more glorious the triumph. What we obtain too cheap, we esteem too lightly: it is dearness only that gives every thing its value. Heaven knows how to put a proper price upon its goods; and it would be strange indeed if so celestial an article as FREEDOM should not be highly rated. Britain, with an army to enforce her tyranny, has declared that she has a right (not only to TAX) but “to BIND us in ALL CASES WHATSOEVER” and if being bound in that manner is not slavery, then is there not such a thing as slavery upon earth. Even the expression is impious; for so unlimited a power can belong only to God. . . . It goes on from there, but even that much seems relevant to Putin and the other murderous autocrats around the world trying to defeat democracy . . . . . . as it does to Zelensky and NATO and Finland and Sweden and Switzerland and the Biden Administration, et al, trying to preserve it. That Trump and Tucker Carlson and so many others are on the wrong side of this is appalling. That so many here in the U.S. have bought Trump’s Big Lie . . . and so many in Russia have bought Putin’s . . . is chilling. Democracy, so hard won, is worth preserving. Attempting to overthrow the results of “the most secure election in American history” is an attempted coup, also known as treason. Why are Liz Cheney and Adam Kinzinger the only Republicans troubled by this?