In The Rights of Man by Thomas Paine, an explicit philosophical idea is stated in which the purpose of government and the functioning of American as a labor union are discussed. Paine believes that to have a successful government those who govern must work with those who are governed. In The Rights of Man Paine states what the central government must do to ensure equal opportunities and justice for every individual. Based on Paine's words, a republic is the safe form of governing body that will ensure justice and equality for every American. Many of Paine's ideas based on his beliefs in government still apply to today's society, such as taxes, wages, and welfare for poverty-stricken citizens. While many today praise other political figures for "first discussing" these issues, it was in fact Thomas Paine who first spoke of these ideas in his pamphlet, The Rights of Man. Thomas Paine believed that the best way to govern was to listen to the people and assist them in every way possible. A balance was needed between rulers and governed. To do this, the government needed to provide a system that created equal opportunities for all its citizens. Institutions such as the income tax, health care, and food stamps all derive from Paine's ideas in The Rights of Man. One man whose ideas were very similar to Paine's was Thomas Jefferson. A quote from Jefferson that relates the two men's ideas is as follows: "The purpose of government is to enable the people of the nation to live in safety and happiness. Government exists for the interests of the governed, not of the governors" (Jefferson ). This idea still pertains to the ideals of government today. This quote given by President Barack Obama compares the......middle of paper......aine introduced in The Rights of Man. These programs are: inheritance tax, progressive income tax, state healthcare, food stamps, poverty reduction, wage changes and international relations. Many of the ideals generated by Paine are those that were later reintroduced by other political thinkers and have been modernly adopted. established. While some variations of these institutions may have been presented to the public, the concept is relatively similar to Thomas Paine's original. Paine's ideas and beliefs have greatly influenced the way modern American government is run today. While many other idealists officially created the programs that are part of the American system today, Paine's ideas are what led to the modernization of the republic. In The Rights of Man, Paine's concepts are ones that have influenced the way the American government is run.