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 on 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, and offices, helping folks get jobs done without fanfare and foolishness. For decades, petty rules, silly laws, and frivolous lawsuites held no power over Common Sense. He was credited with cultivation of 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 such as, don't spend more than you earn; reliable parenting strategies such as, the adult is in charge and not the kids, and it's okay to come in second.

A veteran of the Industrial Revolution, the Great Depression, Common Sense survived cultural and educational trends including feminism, body piercing, whole language, and "New Math." 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 englightened auditors. His health rapidly deteriorated when schools endlessly implemented zero tolerance policies and then carried them to the extreme, such as six year old boys being charged with sexual harassment for kissing a classmate, a teen suspended for taking a swig of mouthwash after lunch, and a teacher who was fired for reprimanding an unruly student. It declined even further when schools had to get parental consent to administer aspirin to a student but cannont inform the parent when their female student is pregnant and wants an abortion.

Finally, Common Sense lost his will to live as the Ten Commandments became contraband, churches became businesses, criminals recieved better treatment than the victims and federal judges stuck their noses into everything from Boy Scouts to professional sports including golf. As the end neared, Common Sense drifted in and out of logic but was kept informed of developements regarding questionable regulations for low flow toilets, "smart" guns, the nurturing of the Prohibition law and other mandatory laws of no consequence to the safety of health - just to have power.

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 sons, Reason and Respect. He is survived by three other stepbrothers: Rights, Tolerance and Whiner. Not many attended his furneral because so few realized he was gone. Hopefully, some of Common Sense's values have lived past him and will rise at some point in time. If we will allow ourselves to be ruled by our Creator, instead of the greed and self-serving lifestyles that we now see, I feel sure that Common Sense will soon follow and live there ater a most flourishing life.