13. “Agrarian Justice”: A Liberal Alternative to Socialism?
The Story of Nowhere – Studies in Utopianism and Humanity
The Story of Nowhere (available as eBook, Audiobook, & Paperback): https://storyofnowhere.com/book/
The Story of Nowhere Podcast Introductory Episode—“Episode Zero”: https://storyofnowhere.com/zero/
A Brief History of Critical Thinking Full Series
Episode 6 – “A Critical Look at Thinking” : https://storyofnowhere.com/lookatthinking/
Episode 8 – “Navigating Dystopia w/ Stefan Verstappen”: https://storyofnowhere.com/verstappen/
Music Credits:
Sampled in Episode:
- “Thomas Paine Tells Glenn Beck and the Tea Party: ‘You’ve Got it All Wrong!'” (YouTube)
- “Wonka – ‘Good Day Sir!'” (YouTube)
Agrarian Justice, Opposed to Agrarian Law and to Agrarian Monopoly. Being a Plan for Meliorating the Condition of Man, by Creating in Every Nation, a National Fund, to Pay Every Person, when Arriving at the Age of Twenty-One Years, the Sum of Fifteen Pounds Sterling, to Enable Him or Her to Begin the World! And Also, Ten Pounds Sterling per Annum During Life to Every Person now Living of the Age of Fifty Years, and to all Others when They Shall Arrive at that Age, to Enable them to Live in Old Age Without Wretchedness, and Go Decently out of the World. By Thomas Paine, Author of Common Sense, Rights of Man, Age of Reason, &c. &c. (1797)
- Full Text (Internet Archive)
- Full Text (Translated French Edition w/ Special Introduction; Social Security Administration)
Common Sense (1776) – Thomas Paine
The Math:
- One “Economic Generation”: 30 years
- Total English Economy: 1.3 billion pounds
- One year’s portion of the English Economy: 43.3 million pounds
- Portion of 43.3 million pounds for direct heirs: 30 million pounds
- 10% of 30 million pounds to be deposited into the National Fund: 3 million pounds (remaining 27 million pounds to be distributed to direct heirs)
- Portion of 43.3 million pounds for indirect heirs: 13.3 million pounds
- 10% of 13.3 million pounds of the National Fund, plus additional 10% from those who die with no direct heirs: 2.6 million pounds
- 3 million pounds (from direct heirs) + 2.6 million pounds (from indirect heirs) = 5.6 million pound National Fund (12.933% of 43.3 million pound yearly English Economy)
- 10 pounds to be given to each of the 400,000 50+ year olds = 4 million pounds
- 15 pounds to be given to each of the 90,000 21 year olds = 1.35 million pounds
- 4 million pounds + 1.35 million pounds = 5.35 million pounds of 5.6 million pound Nation Fund (remaining 316,666 pounds to be distributed among the disabled)
- 15 pounds to be given to each of the 100,000 21 year olds = 1.5 million pounds)
- 4 million pounds + 1.5 million pounds = 5.5 million pounds of 5.6 million pounds National Fund (remaining 100,000 pounds to be distributed among the disabled)
