When Thomas Paine wrote Common Sense he stressed the importance of the proper time for declaring independence. The colonists were most likely not ready for independence at an earlier time, but had they waited the colonists might have missed an opportunity to achieve it. Thomas Paine also spelled out the consequences of not seizing that opportunity. Everything was in place and the time was right for declaring independence. Ironically, we are faced with the same situation. We have reached a point in our history where we must consider the importance of the proper time. A large majority of Americans believe we are heading in the wrong direction and our window of opportunity for getting things turned around is upon us.

Ten or twenty years ago was certainly too early for us to even consider the need for getting things turned around. There certainly were problems, but not enough people were concerned enough to consider it. How about the future, will things improve and present a better time? With the future financial obligations and problems that keep growing it is highly unlikely there will be a better time than the present. With all the world turmoil there is also a possibility that a major war could steal our opportunity. As in colonial times there is great discontent among the people; as more time passes, that discontent may turn into discouragement and leave the people without the will to get things turned around.

We must also consider the consequences for our children and future Americans if we fail to seize this opportunity. What kind of America will we leave them? Can our democracy endure the direction in which our country is headed? We must act now, we cannot just wait and see what happens. Had the colonists not acted, we might not enjoy the freedom we have today. If we don't act, our children or grandchildren may not enjoy that same freedom. The time has come for a new declaration and a new revolution. It happened before, and it must happen again.


"In order to discover the line of our duty rightly, we should take our children in our hand, and fix our station a few years farther into life; that eminence will present a prospect, which a few present fears and prejudices conceal from our sight."

Thomas Paine