“I have heard it asserted by some, that as
America hath (has) flourished under her
former connection with Great Britain, the same
connection is necessary towards her future
happiness, and will always have the same effect.
Nothing can be more fallacious than this kind of
argument ... America would have flourished as
much, and probably much more, had no European
power had anything to do with her.”

What is Thomas Paine trying to say here ?