Death of an Old Friend (Social Issues)

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Death of an old friend 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

Common sense - asking for help if you don't know the answer. There is a lot of common sense here on this forum. This forum is great, keep it this way.

-- Rich (pntbeldyk@wirefire.com), June 30, 2001

Answers

Response to Death of an Old Friend

Good news. I checked the county birth records and it appears Rights, Tolerance and even Whiner fathered politically incorrect children with a fine lady named Self Sufficiency during 1998, 1999 and 2000. Mother and children moved to a remote homestead beyond the sidewalks on the other side of Despair with a Hope RFD mailing address in the country of Future Promise.

-- Jay Blair in N. AL (jayblair678@yahoo.com), June 30, 2001.

Response to Death of an Old Friend

Forgot to add. The kids while just starting out, speak fonder of their uncle Common Sense than their fathers.

-- Jay Blair in N. AL (jayblair678@yahoo.com), June 30, 2001.

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