The Fall of Common Sense

I imagine the ghost of Paul Revere visiting us in modern times. He is riding his horse in the middle of the night. His horse galloping from town to town all the while he is shouting, “Common Sense is Falling! Common Sense is Falling!”

No one comes to their window to check on the disturbance. Most are too busy being glued to their screens to even hear his calls. Others cannot be bothered. The remaining do not want to be inconvenienced by what they perceive is another ploy at getting a reaction from them. As a result, common sense falls like a tree in a distant forest. If no one hears its cries, did it even make a sound?

Aristotle is credited with being the first in discussing the concept of sensus communis (common sense) as the foundation by which a soul processes sensory information. The term was later popularized by Thomas Paine in a pamphlet he created in 1776 titled Common Sense, which advocated for American Independence.

I find it interesting that a concept such as “common sense”, something we have convinced ourselves is an obvious notion, had to be illuminated and discussed by a philosopher and thought leader in order for it to become part of our vernacular. Based on those facts alone, I am beginning to question if common sense ever existed to begin with if Aristotle and Thomas Paine needed to be the ones to point it out?

A few years ago, a thoughtless neighbor decided to increase the size of their guest house. This was, of course, the result of the city making some changes to their existing residential codes. Rather than respect the privacy and rights of its residents, the city chose to reform its existing laws in their attempt to pacify state officials with a ridiculous solution to a real problem…housing. The disrespectful neighbor hired a disrespectful contractor and crew who refused to follow the proper protocols and as a result dirt and debris was flying all over our backyard and into our pool. When I confronted the construction worker and asked if it was possible to minimize the debris entering our yard, he attacked me instantly. Lacking the ability to address me with courtesy, class or manners, he asked me if I expected him to go up and down his ladder in a particular way just so he could comply with my request. I smiled and said, “Of course not. You do what you need to do. I am asking you to be thoughtful.” He just looked at me and said nothing. He was clearly surprised by my request. I wasn’t asking him to change his way of doing things or blaming him for the carelessness of the homeowners who had placed him in this predicament. None of this surprised me. I was, however, hopeful that in communicating with him, it might positively influence his actions moving forward and maybe, just maybe, he would proceed with more compassion and self-awareness next time.

One would think that asking someone to be self-aware, act with integrity, class, and manners, would be common sense. One would also think that elected officials would come up with common sense solutions to complex issues. Unfortunately, very few seem to be operating with common sense top of mind. Instead, we see people reacting to one another like WWE fighters out in broad daylight. The only difference is WWE is entertaining. This pedestrian behavior is not.

With the fall of common sense, I am no longer looking for elected officials or designated leaders to do something they have proven they cannot successfully do – lead with common sense. If common sense existed on Capitol Hill, there would not be two sets of rules. Congress would receive the same Healthcare options as the people they represent, and Insider trading would be illegal for all. Congress would also not be afforded a paycheck during government shutdowns or when they failed to fund departments they represent. When common sense fell, it took class, manners, and integrity with it.

In its place we now have click bait, salacious gossip, entitlement, echo chambers, and wannabe leaders placing band aids on issues whose fault lines are bigger than the Grand Canyon. Being right and taking sides has taken precedence over human decency, respect, and kindness for ourselves and each other.

I often question if class, manners, integrity, and common sense can be taught. At the very least, I believe we can value them. Perhaps when we place value on them, things will shift. People will learn that these traits are worth embodying. They demand that we do the right thing, not because it’s “right” or people are watching, but because we have chosen to be accountable.

The fall of common sense happened long ago. Like a captive hostage, it decided to flee in the middle of the night. There was no convincing it to stay just a little bit longer or wait things out. It left without luggage. It took one look at our current society and said, sorry not sorry I can no longer do this.

Fear not, for all is not lost. There are still those who can happily recall a time when common sense felt like a unifying common denominator. When those who acted with disregard were the minority, and an eyeroll was our way of communicating with like-minded people that we were on the same page. It was not about judgement or being above, but rather living in the sweet spot where manners, class, and common sense were not an idealized notion or a rarity but the norm.