Today we mourn the passing of an old friend, by the name of Common Sense. Common Sense lived a long life but died recently in the United States. No one really knows how old he was, since his birth records were long ago lost in bureaucratic red tape.

He selflessly devoted his life to service in schools, hospitals, homes, factories helping folks get jobs done without fanfare and foolishness. For decades, petty rules, silly laws, and frivolous lawsuits held no power over Common Sense.
He was credited with cultivating such valued lessons as to know when to come in out of the rain, why the early bird gets the worm, and that life isn't always fair.

Common Sense lived by simple, sound financial policies (don't spend more than you earn), reliable parenting strategies (the adults are in charge, not the kids), and it's okay to come in second. A veteran of the Industrial Revolution, the Great Depression, and the Technological Revolution, Common Sense survived cultural and educational trends including body piercing, whole language, and "new math." But his health declined when he became infected with the "If-it-only-helps-one-person-it's-worth-it" virus.

In recent decades his waning strength proved no match for the ravages of well intentioned but overbearing regulations.
He watched in pain as good people became ruled by self-seeking lawyers. His health rapidly deteriorated when schools endlessly implemented zero-tolerance policies.

Reports of a six-year-old boy charged with sexual harassment for kissing a classmate, a teen suspended for taking a swig of mouthwash after lunch, and a teacher fired for reprimanding an unruly student only worsened his condition. It declined even further when schools had to get parental consent to administer aspirin to a student but could not inform the parent when a female student was pregnant or wanted an abortion.

Finally, Common Sense lost his will to live as the Ten Commandments became contraband, churches became businesses, criminals received better treatment than victims, and federal judges stuck their noses in everything from the Boy Scouts to professional sports. Finally, when people too stupid to realize that a steaming cup of coffee was hot, were awarded a huge settlement, Common Sense threw in the towel.

As the end neared, Common Sense drifted in and out of logic but was kept informed of developments regarding questionable regulations such as those for low flow toilets, rocking chairs, and stepladders.

Common Sense was preceded in death by his parents, Truth and Trust; his wife, Discretion; his daughter, Responsibility; and his son, Reason. Two stepbrothers survive him: My Rights, and Ima Whiner. Not many attended his funeral because so few realized he was gone.

That sounds about right, didn't anyone notice him ailing?

I thought he was long dead and buried!

I would like to also make some reference to the passing of Common Sense's good friend, Skepticism.

Skepticism was alive and well until rather recently when she experienced a serious health decline. As the media, often aided by the insurance industry, began to publicize and highlight the occasional silly lawsuit that will pop up among millions of completely meritorious cases that are not reported by the press, people began to believe that kid-fattening lawsuits against McDonalds were in fact the rule in civil litigation and not a bizarre exception to what pops up on the dockets of our courts every day.

Skepticism's health took a further marked downturn when various figures, the President of the US among them, began to rail about "frivolous lawsuits", without in any way pointing out that federal practice and state practice alike present ample means for disposition of such suits by means of the SUMMARY JUDGMENT MOTION, three words of which these public figures seem willfully ignorant.

A code was called on poor Skepticism when various public figures continued to rail about "frivolous lawsuits" when the malpractice insurance markets in several states tightened for doctors, as some insurers went bankrupt or stopped writing policies. Skepticism could not believe that people could actually be convinced that "frivolous" lawsuits were killing the malpractice insurers. Before going on life support, Skepticism was heard to mutter, "It's the MERITORIOUS lawsuits that are putting them out of business."

Although largely comatose, Skepticism was still responsive to painful stimuli in her final days, and was noted to groan audibly when someone read her some recent legislative initiatives to cap "pain and suffering" awards in medical malpractice cases. Tears flowed from Skepticism's eyes when she heard the phrase "pain and suffering" euphemized as "non-economic loss", so as to make this bitter pill go down better amongst an unsuspecting public.

Farewell Common Sense. Skepticism, we hardly knew ye.

"Oh, Danny boy......"

Sue, brace yourself (as I don't want you to suffer another shock), but Common Courtsey (Common Sense's twin) is sinking fast. I'm afraid that he'll soon go the way of his dearly departed sibling--and the sad thing is, I don't think a lot of people will even know he's gone as they never knew him in the first place.

Common Sense--RIP. Common Courtesy--hang in there. There are still people who believe in you.

More bad news I'm afraid. I heard that "Patience" has an irreversible illness.

I fear that all of the above had not been taking thier daily dose of vitamins. Unlike 'Political Correctness' which is positively thriving.

'PC', as we all know him, for short, not unlike our dear friend Rattus Norvegicus, has become immune to the poison we lay down for him.

I think we need more dedicated and reliable 'Rat-Catchers'?

Common Courtesy........... come on mate, you're a fighter. Don't let it beat you.

wez

It seems I'm one of a dying breed - one with common sense, Courtesy and a willingness to help others without wanting something in return. I hope that's not really the case - I don't want to be the one whose left at the side of the road when everyone else passes by because they don't want to get involved!
I'll cross the road - will YOU?