Paine Analysis

Paine Analysis

Kendal Hiatt
Mrs. Hamilton
AP Lang, 5th
January 20th, 2015
Paine RD2
Throughout history our nation’s changing foundation verifies that our government holds the ability to withstand the turning tables of modernization. In contrast to this Paine suggests that our nation as it stood in the 1790’s, continues to exist, one of which “the poor are not oppressed, [and] the rich are not privileged.” But this belief by Paine ceases in today’s society, where events do “engender riots and tumults.” Our grown up nation today proves increasingly differing to the new and learning one Paine describes in his book, Rights of Man.
Firstly, Paine address that the “poor are not oppressed” but this stands seemingly false in today’s America. To give some background on what exactly this means, the definition of oppressed is to burden with cruel or unjust impositions or restraints; subject to a burdensome or harsh exercise of authority or power. Therefore, with this in mind, we discover the aptitude to fully assess that the poor fall to oppression. For example, many cities contain laws against the homeless. One of the most recent ending up in Fort Lauderdale, requiring feeding sites placed more than 500 feet away from each other, with only one allowed per city block, and at least 500 feet from residential properties. This law restricts the homeless in their freedom and restricts their limited ways to receive food, and inclusively relays oppression as it stands cruel to put restraints on a basic necessity to live, such as food. Many other cities attain laws such as these, verifying that oppression of the poor occurs nationally, disproving Paine’s claim. Another law put in place to contain the homeless falls to loitering laws. These laws, adopted by states, prevent homeless from sitting or panhandling on the sidewalks; however, most homeless acquire sleep and money by this action. The oppression of the homeless stands evident in America today, as laws pushing the homeless away...

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