With stunning cynicism, right-wing pundit Glenn Beck has tried to hijack the legacy of Tom Paine - patriot, visionary and American founder, a proponent of democracy who argued against institutionalised religion and introduced the idea of the minimum wage. Paine would be baffled to have inspired Palin and Beck's pro-business politics. As the US Presidential election campaigns for 2012 gear up, the issues raised in this excellent text are more vital than ever. Real Common Sense reintroduces readers to the truth of American values.