Rights of Man Thomas Paine

In the closing chapters of Rights of Man, Paine addresses the condition of the poor and outlines a detailed social welfare proposal predicated upon the redirection of government expenditures.[7] From the onset, Paine asserts all citizens have an inherent claim to welfare. Unlike such writers as James Burgh who sought to limit assistance to the better behaved segments of the poor,[8] Paine declares welfare is not charity, but an irrevocable right.[9] Paine's understanding of welfare seemingly follows his idea of political government. He notes, "Man did not enter into society to become worse than he was before, nor to have fewer rights than he had before, but to have those rights better secured".[10] In congruence with his previous works, Paine emphasizes the compatibility between individual rights and societal wellbeing. He fervently contends that crippling poverty undermines the rights of an individual, and consequently the legitimacy of government. Not surprisingly then, Paine staunchly opposed and criticizes the English Poor Laws in place at the time, claiming the laws are highly ineffective and primitive in nature.[9] Paine critiques the societal conditions promulgated by the Poor Laws saying, "When in countries that are called civilized, we see age going to the workhouse and youth to the gallows, something must be wrong with the system of government".[11] He argues for their complete abolition, and in their place the enactment of a welfare program that assists the young, old, and struggling individuals.[7] Paine's welfare proposal is pillared by education and tax reform; the latter was to be accomplished through progressive taxes on property. Paine contends the poor population consists mostly of children and the elderly, who are unable to participate in the workforce.[10] In addition to the elderly and children, Paine also concedes that there are still some others rendered poor from the economic burden of tax and children.[9] In accordance with his belief that charity as a natural right, Paine presumes only republican or democratic regimes can effectively carry out successful welfare programs. Though Paine does not directly condone or promote up-rise against the British monarchy, and utilizes rather subdued rhetoric in comparison to his other controversial works, revolutionary currents run beneath the surface of the text.

An implication that arises from Paine's social welfare reformation is cost. Paine observes, at the time of his writing, England's rough population to be about 7 million people.[9] He also supposes that around one-fifth of the population is poor.[9] The number of poor then, according to Paine's estimations, would total around 1,400,000 people, in need of support.[12] Paine contended the remedy for financing such a large welfare endeavor would be to cut military expenditures of the state and redirect the funds towards the people of the state.[12] Paine argued that since the age of revolution rendered a new era of peace, the government no longer need devote so many resources toward monarchical wars.[13] Instead, Paine suggests, the surplus of tax revenue could be reintegrated back into society with the formation of a welfare program. He also estimates that near £4 million, out of £17 million in total tax revenues from customs and excise duties, could be salvaged from the government's expenditure and redirected and redistributed to the people of the nation.[12] Paine questions, "Is it, then, better that the lives of one hundred and forty thousand aged persons be rendered comfortable, or that a million a year of public money be expended on any one individual, and him often of the most worthless or insignificant character?"[12] Paine concludes that by his model £3,640,000 will be remitted to the poor.[12] Paine's allotments for the poor and elderly were far more generous than contemporary payments from the poor rates.[14]

Youth and education

Education is a foundational cornerstone of Paine's welfare plan. Paine claims, "A nation under a well-regulated government, should permit none to remain uninstructed".[11] Paine largely focuses on educating the youth population. He contends that, educating children will ultimately compel the betterment of society holistically.[9] Paine insists a proactive social welfare system that educates the country's youth, will act as a preventive measure, and engender greater knowledge amongst the population. He explains that poor children and young people are typically deprived of equal access to education.[9] Poor children coming from poor families are often forced to seek apprenticeships and work, and are thus subsequently robbed of the ability to pursue education. Poverty then, becomes cyclical in nature and undoubtedly increases with time.[7] Lack of education amongst the young population, Paine asserts, will also lead to increased violence and crime.[9] To combat this problem, Paine proposes a remission of taxes to poor families; £4 a year for every child under the age of 14, granting the parents of the children send them to school.[11] For 630,000 children, Paine estimates the cost to be £2,520,000.[11] Paine states, "By adopting this method, not only the poverty of the parents will be relieved, but ignorance will be banished from the rising generation, and the number of poor will hereafter become less, because their abilities, by the aid of education, will be greater".[11] Paine's advocacy for education among the poor was novel not only in 1792, but in 1807 when Davies Giddy criticized Samuel Whitbread's bill for the establishment of parish schools.[15] In the same vein, Paine also suggest women should receive maternity benefits immediately after the birth of a child.[7]

Elderly

Paramount to Paine's welfare plan, is care of the elderly population. Paine divides age into two classes; the first he calls "the approach of age" class and the second "old age" class.[9] Those classified as being in the "approach of age" group are over fifty years of age yet under 60 years of age, while "old age" commences at the age of sixty years old.[11] Paine notes that though individuals in the approach of age class retain their mental faculties, the decline of their physical health limits their ability to work, which consequently affects their earnings.[11] Those of old age, Paine declares, are fully incapable of laborious work and are ultimately driven to work themselves to death in current society.[9] Paine resolves to pay approach of age persons the sum of £6 per annum out of the surplus taxes, and to pay old age persons £10 per annum.[11] Figuring there will be 70,000 persons in the approach of age class and 70,000 persons in the old age class, Paine estimates the expense to be 1,120,000.[11]

Proposal conditions

In tandem with redirecting government expenditures, Paine suggests the development of what some may call a "workhouse", or place of employment for poor people.[16] Paine's describes the workhouse as being a building, or buildings, with the capability of holding a minimum of 6,000 people.[9] In these buildings, operating businesses would indiscriminately accept applications, so that every city citizen could find employment.[9] In order for Paine's plan to be carried out effectively, he cites some conditions that must be met. He resolves that each person seeking employment from these workhouses must stay in the program for a minimum of three months; however, during their residency all employees shall receive wholesome meals, warm lodgings, receive a proportional stipend for the work they've completed, and may work as long or as little as they deem appropriate.[10] The asylum, Paine declares, would assist any persons in temporary distress and would serve around 24,000 people a year.[10] To finance the development of this project, Paine suggest using the revenue from the state's coal tax.[9] Paine states that at the time he is writing, the tax revenue is used to support the Duke of Richmond. Paine ultimately finds this particular deplorable, and calls for the reallocation of coal tax funds back to the people.[9]

Paine concludes his section on welfare by listing the eight central tenets of his welfare proposal, or what he calls the "enumerating particulars", which are as follows:

1. Abolish 2 million poor rates.
2. Provision for 252,000 poor families.
3. Education for 1,030,000 children.
4. Comfortable provision for 140,000 aged persons.
5. Donation of 20 shillings each for 50,000 births.
6. Donation of 20 shillings each for 20,000 marriages.
7. Allowance of £20,000 for the funeral expenses of deceased travelers far from home.
8. Employment at all times for the casual poor in cities.[10]