Common Sense

Common Sense

By: Melissa Dallago

One would think that commons sense would, well, be common, in everyone. However, we are finding that it is not as common as we thought.

Look around and take stock of those around you. Many people that you run into are often on their own errands or wrapped up in their own thoughts. Some may give you a nod in acknowledgment, others may walk right past you without any recognition, and some may look at you angrily as if you have done something to offend them. Whatever their reaction, you can be pretty confident in thinking that these people are good individuals, who have a smart head on their shoulders, and that common sense is an everyday occurrence. This reflects the general population of our fellow citizens. There may be some anomalies here and there, but overall we are smart, savvy, a little selfish, but are mindful of others and would lend a hand to friends or a worthy cause. So it’s fair to say, that common sense reigns supreme in the general population. Now let’s look at our government and our elected officials.

I don’t know about you, but from my perspective these people live in a vacuum and common sense exited stage left a long time ago. Common sense is like Big Foot, rarely seen, and when spotted, it is from a great distance. Any photographic evidence of common sense is grainy and the experts will say it’s improbable that it actually exists.

These elected officials are allegedly the cream of the crop. We chose them to represent our interests in the larger arena of the government. However last I saw, they claim to be doing what’s best for us and our country, but in my opinion, they only have their interests, and not ours, on their agenda. The do not act with common sense or common decency.

They are nihilistic individuals who disregard our wishes for what we want for our country. They pat us on the head like little children and say “We know what’s best. We’re doing the job of making the hard decisions that you can’t or have no ability to do.” They patronize us, humor us, and tell us what they think we want to hear.

I’m sorry, but last I checked, “We the People” gave the government the right to act on our behalf, and “We the People” have the right to voice our opinions in what we think is right and just for our country. “We the People” elected them on their promises and coy words, and “We the People” have the power to elect them out of office. They are our elected officials. We are not their servants, they are ours.

So I demand that our elected officials listen to us, take our wishes into account, and answer our questions, even if they are above their pay grade. The government works for us, not us for the government. The common sense that each citizen practices every day of their lives is not present in the government. Well I demand that it needs to return, along with accountability. No more hiding, no more back pedaling, and no more molly coddling us like we’re children.

 We can take it. We know better than you the value of family, a day’s hard work, and the satisfaction in knowing we do what is hard every day for ourselves and our kin. The government doesn't know that.

We do not want or need a big brother in every boardroom or home telling us what is right or wrong. We don’t want or need every company and organization beholden to the government for money and handouts. We don’t want or need a big tentacled monster reaching into every single facet of our lives.

We want a small government that protects our God given rights. We want honest officials who mean what they say, and say what they mean. We want someone who will give it to us straight, without flowery words, so we can make the right decision. I don’t think this is too much to ask, do you? “We the People” are the ultimate decision makers. Most importantly, I demand a return of common sense to our government.

I will close with a quote from Lucretius, “It is more useful to watch a man in times of peril, and in adversity, to discern what kind of man he is, for then, at last, words of truth are drawn from the depths of his heart, and the mask is torn off, reality remains.” Times are hard, show us what you’re made of!