Many historical milestones will dot the calendar this year as Americans look to celebrate the 250th anniversary of our nation’s independence on July the Fourth.

Just after the turn of the new year in 1776, a 47-page pamphlet titled “Common Sense” helped change the course of human history. The author, Thomas Paine, set foot in America just over a year before its publication. His straight talk hit the nail on the head, describing the kings of England as “plunderers” of individual freedom, imploring his fellow colonists to stop dilly-dallying around and revolt against the monarchy, which by all intents and purposes had declared war “against the natural rights of all mankind.”

Notably, the pamphlet first was published anonymously to protect the neck of its author. Cloaked in anonymity, its brazen call for independence kept the focus on the message, not the messenger. “Common Sense” spread like wildfire across the colonies, helping to shift public opinion to embrace revolution instead of reconciliation with the British Crown.

More than 500,000 copies were sold to reach 2.5 million people living in the 13 colonies. The content was used in letters to the editor in colonial newspapers and spread by word of mouth, bringing even more momentum for separation from Great Britain.

Keep in mind the American Revolutionary War had started less than a year before, on April 19, 1775, at the battles of Lexington and Concord in Massachusetts. At the time, it wasn’t clear what the conflict might turn into, let alone a full-blown war for independence. Revolution was not universally embraced. The colonists were divided among three camps in America’s Revolutionary era: Patriots, Loyalists and Neutrals.

“Common Sense” snowballed and grew an avalanche of support among the fence-sitters. Paine’s simple language connected with the colonists, pointing out the absurdity for a “Continent to be perpetually governed by an island.” General George Washington said the pamphlet “is working a powerful change there in the Minds of many Men.”

In fact, 176 days after “Common Sense” was first printed, the nation’s founders boldly declared America’s independence on July 4, 1776. Scholars have referred to “Common Sense” as the most important essay in American history. It connected with the zeitgeist of colonial America: the people no longer wanted a ruler; they wanted a say in their government. Paine’s “Common Sense” underscores the utility of no-nonsense messaging.

From the late 18th century to the first quarter of the 21st century, plain speaking stands the test of time. Memorable lines from Abraham Lincoln’s Gettysburg Address and Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.’s quest for civil rights galvanized Americans, paving the way for freedom, justice and equality during the darkest days of our nation’s history. The most famous colonial grievance rings true to this day: “No taxation without representation.” That slogan distills the essence of representative government. In our constitutional republic, power rests with the people, exercised through their elected representatives.

As an elected political leader, civic engagement is imperative to inform my work. Holding dialogue through my annual 99 county meetings and prioritizing correspondence with my constituents holds me accountable to the people and helps me to keep check on government overreach. Put simply, I work to ensure government is working for the people, not the other way around.

Our founding charter boldly declares that government exists to secure the rights and happiness of the people, not for disabuse as a piggy bank for fraudsters or as a cash cow for government largesse.

I’m proud to bring Midwestern common sense and fiscal conservatism to the policymaking tables in Washington, D.C. As a taxpayer watchdog, I sink my teeth into wrongdoing like the massive fraud scandal in Minnesota. Holding government looters accountable is imperative to restore the social contract articulated in Paine’s “Common Sense.” That’s why I push for common sense fraud-fighting tools to strengthen the social safety net, put the brakes on pigheaded Pentagon waste, expose wasteful spending across federal agencies and protect whistleblowers who stick their necks out to report wrongdoing.

As we count down the days to America’s birthday, upholding our nation’s 250-year experiment in self-government drives my tight-fisted grip on the purse strings and keeps my foot on the gas to foster civic engagement from one generation to the next.

——–

Charles Grassley, a Republican from New Hartford,

represents Iowa in the U.S. Senate.