Conversations with Thomas Paine

When we lose something important, we always return to the beginning to begin our search of re-discovery. We are losing our Democracy, so it is only logical that we return to the one person whose ideas and writings began American Democracy; Thomas Paine. Mr. Paine believed deeply in God, but did not believe in man-made religions and fought against those religious leaders who abuse people. His ideas about people became our Democracy. In this writing, a troubled old man steps onto his porch one night along the New England coast road. He sits and wonders how we lost our Democracy. His burning question is how can Democracy be re-established. Thomas Paine, the Founding Father of American Democracy somehow stops for visits with the old man. They engage in conversations, at times heated, at times ranting, while always thoughtful, about the loss of Democracy, condition of the Constitution, inequality, loss of individual rights, loss of Judicial redress, loss of free will, another rise of Fascism, and the current dangers to freedom.