In the book, Common Sense, Thomas Paine tries to persuade Americans to change their government and change their own lives. Throughout his book, Paine argues that in order for changes to occur in their lives, the Americans must encourage a revolution against their mother country, England. Furthermore, he utilizes many different forms of persuasion to argue his case. Paine knew that only through persuasion could he sway the feelings of the majority to favor revolution. This application of persuasion to the many different social issues affecting today's society can also cause the same change that Paine sought out when he wrote his book. .
First, many argue capital punishment as a moral injustice, but I support capital punishment as a solution to our society's criminal problems. The fundamental issues raised by the death penalty question it's effectiveness as a deterrent to violent crimes, and whether it is more effective than the alternative of long-term imprisonment. Supporters of the death penalty believe it a better deterrent than imprisonment because they consider taking an offender's life a more severe punishment. Furthermore, both scriptural and retributive elements account for the classic moral arguments in favor of the death penalty. For example, the statement from the Bible that "whosoever sheds man's blood, by man shall his blood be shed" (Genesis 9:6) has interpreted a divine warrant for putting a murderer to death. Another verse from the Bible, "Let the punishment fit the crime", provides for its secular counterpart. Both maxims imply that a murderer deserves to die. In addition, other aspects of capital punishment have also claimed that society has the right to kill in defense of its members, just as the individual may kill in self-defense. Next, the idea of zero tolerance in our society's school system has just come up recently in the news with the dispute in Decatur, Illinois.
