Agrarian Justice

Thomas Paine rev1

Agrarian Justice is a pamphlet written by Thomas Paine in 1797, advocating for the use of land taxes to fund a universal old-age and disability pension, as well as a fixed sum to be paid to all citizens upon reaching maturity. It is considered one of the earliest proposals for a form of social security.

Background

Thomas Paine, an influential thinker and writer of the late 18th century, is best known for his works such as Common Sense and The Rights of Man, which contributed to the American and French Revolutions, respectively. In Agrarian Justice, Paine turned his attention to the social and economic inequalities of his time, particularly those arising from the enclosure of common lands.

Content

In Agrarian Justice, Paine argues that the earth, in its natural state, was the common property of the human race. The appropriation of land for private use, therefore, deprived the rest of society of their natural inheritance. To compensate for this, Paine proposed that those who own land owe society a ground-rent, which could be used to fund a universal pension for all reaching the age of 50, and a one-time payment to each citizen upon reaching the age of 21, to help them start in life.

Paine's proposal is notable for its early recognition of the rights of the individual in relation to the land and its resources, and for advocating a form of wealth redistribution as a right rather than charity. His ideas on social welfare prefigured later developments in social security and welfare systems.

Impact and Legacy

While Agrarian Justice did not lead to immediate policy changes, it has been recognized as a significant early work on social justice and welfare. Paine's ideas contributed to the broader discussions on rights, property, and the role of the state in providing for the welfare of its citizens, which would continue to evolve through the 19th and 20th centuries.

The pamphlet remains a subject of study for those interested in the history of social welfare, economic justice, and the philosophical underpinnings of social security systems. Its proposals for a land tax and universal benefits are echoed in contemporary debates on wealth inequality, basic income, and the social safety net.

See Also

• Social Security
• Universal basic income
• Wealth tax
• Land value tax