Episode Description
Statue of Thomas Paine. Image by Shutterstock
Welcome to the July 4th Episode of The Ascendant Project!!!
This year we are examining Thomas Paine’s Common Sense. Common Sense was a series of pamphlets, eventually put into one volume, which made a case for declaring independence from Britain. Written before the Declaration of Independence, it was instrumental in swaying public opinion and persuading the Continental Congress for steadfast kinetic opposition to the British Empire. It drew upon Scripture, politics, philosophy, and statistics.
We highly encourage you to read Common Sense before listening to this episode. However, if you just want to get a greater appreciation of something that was a test question in High School history without reading it, please listen anyway.
Copies of Common Sense can be downloaded here or bought here.
Comments, Corrections, Clarifications, Allusions, & Addendums
4:10
Ye is the formal version of the plural you. Thou is the formal version of the singular you.
4:39
Sis Boom Bah. What is the sound a sheep makes just before it explodes. Thanks Carson
13:52
Star Trek (original series). Season 2 Episode 5. The Apple.
16:32
Goodwin, Doris Kearns (2005). Team of Rivals: The Political Genius of Abraham Lincoln. New York: Simon and Schuster. p. 350. ISBN 978-1416549833.
23:27
Braver Angels is a non-political organization that teaches people how to have more constructive political conversations. “How to disagree better” is a name of one of their workshops. Another workshop is “Depolarizing within”. Find more information at www.braverangels.org
23:56
Crapulous Mass! lol. I need to start using that insult. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Thomas_Paine
29:22
1 Samuel 8. Samuel the prophet warns the people of Israel not to appoint a King.
29:59
Another reason why the present time is preferable to all others is, that the fewer our numbers are, the more land there is yet unoccupied, which, instead of being lavished by the king on his worthless dependents, may be hereafter applied, not only to the discharge of the present debt, but to the constant support of government. No nation under Heaven hath such an advantage as this. pg 21/27 Essay 4: Of the Present Ability of America, With Some Miscellaneous Reflections “Common Sense” by Thomas Paine
34:41
Neil Degrasse Tyson talks about God of the Gaps on Moyers and Company
34:49
But Lot’s wife, from behind him, looked back, and she became a pillar of salt. Gen 19:26 NASB
36:52
“Crack is Whack” is referencing a Whitney Houston interview with Diane Sawyer in 2002.
37:19
Population of the United States is 342 Million. Population Clock
38:02
In 2025 Net immigration to an from the United States as in fact negative. ABC NEWS
39:43
Article 1 Section 2 of the Constitution states: The Number of Representatives shall not exceed one for every thirty Thousand, but each State shall have at Least one Representative
41:28
John Hanson. First President of Congress Assembled.
49:55
California’s Wealth Tax Referendum
51:06
OOOOHHHH NOOOO. Brian is totally messing and mixing facts like SNL’s Girl you wish you didn’t start a conversation with at a party.
John Paul Jones was a member of Led Zepplin, and Louie Louie is a song by the Kingsman.
Damn the Torpedoes full speed ahead was said by Union Admiral David Farragut during the Civil War
56:00
The US Merchant Marine is a civilian, not military organization. However, they have a military like hierarchy and are auxiliary to the US NAVY to transports troops, supplies, and weaponry.
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