Common sense is the ability to use logical judgment. It is was most reasonable people would do in any situation.
The wonderful thing about it is that it does not require anything other than normal everyday practical knowledge that we pick up as we grow and experience the day-to-day thing called life.
It used to be abundant. Until things like " Racism ", "wokeism " , " climate change " and political correctness poisoned it and choked the very life out of it.
An unusual obituary appeared in the Indianapolis Star several years ago. Upon reading it, millions of sensible people around the world felt the loss deeply, while at the same time, nodded their heads knowingly.
Written by Lori Borgman, “The Death of Common Sense” will make you wonder, has common sense really passed on?
These days, it surely feels like it.
Three yards of black fabric enshroud my computer terminal. I am mourning the passing of an old friend by the name of Common Sense. His obituary reads as follows: Common Sense, aka C.S., lived a long life, but died from heart failure at the brink of the millennium. No one really knows how old he was, his birth records were long ago entangled in miles and miles of bureaucratic red tape. Known affectionately to close friends as Horse Sense and Sound Thinking, he selflessly devoted himself to a life of service in homes, schools, hospitals and offices, helping folks get jobs done without a lot of fanfare, whooping and hollering.
Rules and regulations and petty, frivolous lawsuits held no power over C.S. A most reliable sage, he was credited with cultivating the ability to know when to come in out of the rain, the discovery that the early bird gets the worm and how to take the bitter with the sweet.
C.S. also developed sound financial policies (don’t spend more than you earn), reliable parenting strategies (the adult is in charge, not the kid) and prudent dietary plans (offset eggs and bacon with a little fiber and orange juice).
A veteran of the Industrial Revolution, the Great Depression, the Technological Revolution and the Smoking Crusades, C.S. survived sundry cultural and educational trends including disco, the men’s movement, body piercing, whole language and new math. C.S.’s health began declining in the late 1960s when he became infected with the If-It-Feels-Good, Do-It virus.
In the following decades, his waning strength proved no match for the ravages of overbearing federal and state rules and regulations and an oppressive tax code. C.S. was sapped of strength and the will to live as the Ten Commandments became contraband, criminals received better treatment than victims and judges stuck their noses in everything from Boy Scouts to professional baseball and golf.
His deterioration accelerated as schools implemented zero-tolerance policies. Reports of 6-year-old boys charged with sexual harassment for kissing classmates, a teen suspended for taking a swig of Scope mouthwash after lunch, girls suspended for possessing Midol and an honor student expelled for having a table knife in her school lunch were more than his heart could endure.
As the end neared, doctors say C.S. drifted in and out of logic but was kept informed of developments regarding regulations on low-flow toilets and mandatory air bags. Finally, upon hearing about a government plan to ban inhalers from 14 million asthmatics due to a trace of a pollutant that may be harmful to the environment, C.S. breathed his last.
Services will be at Whispering Pines Cemetery. C.S. was preceded in death by his wife, Discretion; one daughter, Responsibility; and one son, Reason. He is survived by two step-brothers, Half-Wit and Dim-Wit.
Memorial Contributions may be sent to the Institute for Rational Thought. Farewell, Common Sense. May you rest in peace.
I sometimes think if we could get back to speaking in real English, we may find a miraculous resurrection of Common Sense. So often these days, we hear politicians speak in tongues - strange word salads that make no sense and are becoming far too common. It would at least be a start.
This is a 1970's short video that exemplifies this well. If you can understand what he is saying, you should send your resume to Karmala Harris.
" This is the first time Turbo Encabulator was recorded with picture. I shot this in the late 70's at Regan Studios in Detroit on 16mm film. The narrator and writer is Bud Haggert. He was the top voice-over talent on technical films. He wrote the script because he rarely understood the technical copy he was asked to read and felt he shouldn't be alone. We had just finished a production for GMC Trucks and Bud asked since this was the perfect setting could we film his Turbo Encabulator script. He was using an audio prompter referred to as "the ear". He was actually the pioneer of the ear. He was to deliver a live speech without a prompter. After struggling in his hotel room trying to commit to memory he went to plan B. He recorded it to a large Wollensak reel to reel recorder and placed it in the bottom of the podium. With a wired earplug he used it for the speech and the "ear" was invented. Today every on-camera spokesperson uses a variation of Bud's innovation. Dave Rondot (me) was the director and John Choate was the DP on this production. The first laugh at the end is mine. My hat's off to Bud a true talent. " - Dave Rondot
For myself, I prefer old fashioned plain speak. You know, when you could understand every word and actually wanted to hear what was being said.
Common Sense need not be boring or insipid: it can be very engaging. It can inform, inspire and entertain. As one commenter said " Now if half the people in this country had this guy’s charm, we as a society would be in a much better place."
But then again, if Common Sense made a miraculous recovery, most of our politicians, reporters, university students and so-called movie stars would all be lining up for unemployment and the world would be a much, much better place.
No, I suspect they want to keep him dead because he was and is too dangerous when alive.
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