California sunset via ms4jah.

This evening’s quote comes from Thomas Paine, from his Agrarian Justice written in 1797.

I care not how affluent some may be, provided that none be miserable in consequence of it. But it is impossible to enjoy affluence with the felicity it is capable of being enjoyed, while so much misery is mingled in the scene. The sight of misery, and the unpleasant sensations it suggests, which, though they may be suffocated cannot be extinguished, are a greater drawback on felicity of affluence than the proposed ten percent [inheritance tax] upon property is worth. He that would not give the one to get rid of the other, has no charity, even for himself.

And I want to follow that with a quote from Daniel Webster on the same theme, from his "First Settlement of New England" speech given at Plymouth, MA to commemorate the 200th anniversary of the landing of the Pilgrims, Dec. 22, 1820:

The freest government, if it could exist, would not be long acceptable, if the tendency of the laws were to create a rapid accumulation of property in a few hands, and to render the great mass of the population dependent and penniless. In such case, the popular power would be likely to break upon the rights of property, or else the influence of property to limit and control the exercise of popular power….In the nature of things, those who have not property, and see their neighbors possess much more than they think them to need, cannot be favorable to laws made for protection of property. When this class becomes numerous, it grows clamorous. It looks on property as its prey and plunder, and is naturally ready, at all times, for violence and revolution.

That we have been struggling with issues of poverty, accumulation of wealth, charity, and the social contract since this nation’s founding should be obvious to anyone who has studied history.