The Document
Common Sense Again
Thomas Paine's pamphlet, taken up again in its 250th year — a short argument about why nothing works, and how we can fix it.
TABLE OF CONTENTS
11 chapters · about 19 minutes- IThe Vote That Explains Everything2 min
- IIWe Agree More Than We've Been Told1 min
- IIIWhy It Happens Anyway4 min
- IVThe Bill Coming Due1 min
- VWhat I'm Actually After1 min
- VIThe Three Repairs1 min
- VIIThe One Test1 min
- VIIIWe Keep Almost Fixing Things2 min
- IXWhat Isn't Here2 min
- XHow We Will Know If It Worked2 min
- XIA Closing Word2 min
TAKE IT WITH YOU
The same argument exists at three lengths. The short edition is the one these chapters come from.
- PDF · 30 min readON THIS SITEDownload the Pamphlet
The eleven chapters on this site, word for word. Start here.
- PDF · 73 min readDownload the Expanded Pamphlet
The unabridged pamphlet — the same argument at twice the length, with the Paine passages and both appendices in full.
- PDF · 62 min readDownload the Full Details
The complete policy treatment: implementation, objections, sequencing, and sourcing.