Political Quotes

Thomas Paine: Whether a combination acts to raise the price of any article for sale, or rate of wages; or whether it acts to throw…

On the recordJanuary 1, 1791
Whether a combination acts to raise the price of any article for sale, or rate of wages; or whether it acts to throw taxes from itself upon another class of the community, the principle and the effect are the same; and if the one be illegal, it will be difficult to show that the other ought to exist.
Said by
Thomas Paine

Editor's note · Context

Paine argues that the principle and effect of combinations, whether economic or political, are the same in shifting burdens onto others.

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