Read the excerpt from Common Sense, by Thomas Paine. “To talk of friendship with those in whom our reason forbids us to have faith, and our affections wounded through a thousand pores instruct us to detest, is madness and folly. Every day wears out the little remains of kindred between us [the colonists] and them [the British], and can there be any reason to hope, that as the relationship expires, the affection will increase, or that we shall agree better, when we have ten times more and greater concerns to quarrel over than ever?” Which is the best way to objectively summarize this excerpt? According to Paine, the relationship between America and Britain worsens every day, and there is no hope that the nations will reconcile. Paine attempts to explain why Britain and America should not reconcile, and his reasoning is very strong. Paine writes that America and Britain should not reconcile because they will just continue to have conflicts. The Americans, Paine correctly asserts, should no longer subject themselves to British oppression.