Today we mourn the passing of an old friend by the
name of Common Sense.
Common Sense lived a long life but died from 
heart failure at the brink of the millennium.
No one really knows how old he was
since his birth records were long ago lost 
in bureaucratic red tape.
 Common Sense selflessly devoted his life to service
in schools,
hospitals, homes, factories and offices,
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, 
the early bird gets the worm,
  and life isn't always fair. 
Common Sense lived by simple, sound
financial policies
(don't spend more than you earn), 
reliable parenting strategies 
(adults are in charge, not 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 feminism, 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
overbearing federal regulation.
He watched in pain as good people became 
ruled by self-seeking lawyers
and enlightened auditors.



His health rapidly deteriorated when 
schools endlessly implemented zero tolerance policies, 
reports of six year old boys charged with sexual
harassment for kissing a classmate, 
a teen suspended for taking a swig of
mouth-wash after lunch, 
and a teacher fired for reprimanding an unruly student. 
It declined even further when schools had to 
get parental consent to administer aspirin to a student 
but cannot inform the parent when the female
student is pregnant or wants an abortion. 
Finally, Common Sense lost his will
to live as Lifetime Values 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.



As the end neared, Common Sense drifted in and out of logic 
but was kept informed of developments, 
regarding questionable regulations for asbestos,
low flow toilets, "smart" guns, 
the nurturing of Prohibition Laws and
mandatory air bags. 
Finally when told that the homeowners association
restricted exterior furniture only to that 
which enhanced property values, 
he breathed his last. 
Common Sense was preceded in death by his parents 
Truth and Trust; 
his wife, Discretion;
  his daughter, Responsibility; 
and his son, Reason. 
He is survived by three stepbrothers: 
Rights, Tolerance and Whiner.
Not many attended his funeral because 
so few realized he was gone.

Author unknown

If you would like to visit another page in my website,
you can choose from the drop-down  menu below: