Source: Ludwig von Mises Institute
by George Ford Smith
“Members of the Continental Congress were not all rich, possessed of prestigious degrees, or lawyers. But many had established leadership skills and could generally be considered successful individuals. Paine had none of these attributes. In no sense could he be considered an elite. His life until late 1774 was a train of personal and occupational failures. So how did he become — in some 13 months — the American Revolution’s major catalyst?” (06/03/25)