The Beacon

The lastest articles from the Beacon:

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  Thomas Paine: Founder of Modern Democracy: Part 2 
  by Gary Berton
  September 1, 2025
  Thomas Paine’s first principles built the structure of democracy. The mechanisms central to Paine’s political theories are rooted in his ideology of first principles. The basic foundation of these principles is equality, and as a direct result, justice. If equality is practiced, then people share equal justice. 
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  Theodore Dreiser and Thomas Paine
  by Frances Chiu
  July 1, 2025
  Dreiser, like Paine, viewed oligarchy as a serious threat to ordinary Americans, who were sacrificed to rich overlords by a complicit government. Dreiser, like Paine, urged populist action: “We want a government for all the people! No enormous wealth in private hands!”
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  Thomas Paine: Founder of Modern Democracy: Part 1 
  by Gary Berton
  July 1, 2025
  Thomas Paine is the founder of modern democracy. In word and deed, he crafted the democratic movement in three countries, and it spread on its own around the world. As a result, Paine was slandered, attacked and marginalized for 200 years.
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  Why Thomas Paine is so Fascinating to Me 
  by Scott Cleary
  May 1, 2025
  A Canadian who grew up outside Toronto, I first heard of Thomas Paine very briefly in high school when my Canadian history classes spent as little time as possible on the American Revolution. That was more about the Loyalist expulsion to Canada than the achievement of American independence. 
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  Where have you gone, Thomas Paine? 
  by Bro. Kevin Griffith
  May 1, 2025
  Paine says that aristocracy and oligarchy should be rejected. Likewise, Paine says the worst kind of government is one where decisions are subject to the passions of a single individual. I advise those in the White House to study Paine’s writings
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  Paine’s ‘English Accent’
  by Richard Briles Moriarty
  May 1, 2025
  Today’s British accent emerged in the 19th century. As the century progressed, Americans largely retained traditional ways of speaking English while England radically deviated from those linguistic roots. Spoken British English and American English diverged. 
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  Thomas Edison’s Salute to Thomas Paine 
  by Barbara Crane
  May 1, 2025
  Thomas Edison, among the most famous men of the early 20th century, played a vital role in restoring the public reputation of Thomas Paine. A great admirer of Paine since his youth, Edison attended the 1925 groundbreaking ceremony for the Thomas Paine Memorial Building in New Rochelle. 
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  Thomas Paine on the Federalists and Oligarchy
  by Gary Berton
  May 1, 2025
  The Federalist Party, anointed by most historians as the founding party of the new United States, shaped the Constitution, adopted in 1787. Their conservative and nationalist ideas were voiced in 85 newspaper essays, collected in “The Federalist Papers,” to counter arguments against the plan from those who wanted more democracy.
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  Brazilian Scholar Discusses Age of Reason and Democracy
  by Judah Freed
  March 1, 2025
  In a February 15 talk at the Paine Memorial Building in New Rochelle, Dr. Carvalho said, “By criticizing the adulterous connection between church and state… Paine had devastating effects on the governments using religion to maintain hierarchies and oppression.” 
• 
  The Paradox of Thomas Paine Park in NYC’s Foley Square 
  by Adrian Tawfik
  March 1, 2025
  Foley Square now wears the name of a corrupt politician while Paine Park has a lightpost marker with no statue of the great man. New York should recognize Paine’s achievements and give him the place of honor at Civic Center, even at the risk of insulting “Big Tom.”