Modern political ideas in Machiavelli's The PrinceMachiavelli's The Prince presents many political ideas that are still relevant in modern politics. He debates topics such as whether it is better to be loved or feared, whether to be generous or miserly, and how virtue can be manipulated. Machiavelli references well-known figures from literature and history to make many of his points, such as Caesar, Achilles, and Alexander VI. Although these Prince essays were meant to serve as advice to princes of Machiavelli's time, he presents political ideas aligned with modern conservatives, and these ideas are still very prevalent today. Say no to plagiarism. Get a tailor-made essay on “Why violent video games should not be banned”?Get the original essayOne of Machiavelli's arguments is that it is better to be miserly than generous. Although he recognizes that liberality can give you a good reputation, “the generosity which earns you this reputation can do you great harm” (1610). He argues that a prince with a reputation for liberality “will immediately be branded a miser” if he decides to stop his generous ways (1610). He also believes that it is not in the public interest for a prince to be generous, as this will result in higher taxes in order to fund the prince's donations, while a more miserly prince is able to lower taxes because he doesn't spend. as much. As such, Machiavelli believes that greed, not generosity, will ultimately give you a reputation for generosity. Both sides of this argument – ​​liberality and avarice – can be easily aligned with modern liberal and conservative beliefs, respectively. Machiavelli's idea of ​​giving money and being generous sounds a lot like a liberal tax plan – higher taxes that fund welfare programs for the poor. Machiavelli, however, aligns with a more conservative fiscal plan, believing that higher taxes will "rob his subjects" and that lower taxes are for the common good (1611). Machiavelli appears to have strong support for conservative economics, and it is an idea that still applies today. Another topic Machiavelli addresses is whether it is better to be feared or loved. He explains that it is better to be afraid, because men will serve a prince they love “as long as danger is removed” (1612). However, Machiavelli continues, “when danger is near, they turn against you” (1612). Machiavelli firmly believes that it is better to be feared than to be loved, but he also makes a point of being feared but not hated. He says that a prince can avoid hatred by not touching his citizens' property and shedding blood only when necessary. Here it is clear that Machiavelli is in favor of the death penalty, but he says that it should only be carried out with "solid justification and manifest cause" (1612). However, Machiavelli does not give further details on what would be such an act that can be justified by the death penalty. This is where the debate still lies today, as there are many different views on the distinction between crimes punishable by death and those that are not. This debate involves many different variables, including the age and mental state of the criminal, the context of the situation, and many other factors. However, there is a larger debate over whether or not to introduce the death penalty, and it is clear that Machiavelli favors such a punishment. Machiavelli's own justification for the death penalty as a punishment.