“The truth is incontrovertible. Malice may attack it, ignorance may deride it, but in the end, there it is.” Winston Churchill
What happened to common sense in America? Common sense used to mean looking at the facts, accepting reality, taking responsibility, and applying the same standards to everyone. Today, nonsense is often treated as wisdom while common sense is treated as controversial.
A young man was stabbed to death. A jury heard the evidence, considered the self-defense claim, and returned a guilty verdict after only a few hours of deliberation. Yet much of the discussion became about race instead of the facts. Common sense says justice should be based on evidence, not skin color.
California requires voters to be United States citizens. Yet a gym membership card can be accepted as identification in certain voting-related circumstances. A gym membership proves membership in a gym. It does not prove citizenship. Common sense says if citizenship is required, citizenship should be verified.
Carol and I are traveling through Northern California and Southern Oregon. We have seen countless able-bodied men living on the streets. Some clearly suffer from mental illness or addiction and deserve help. Others appear capable of working and supporting themselves. Common sense says we should help those who cannot help themselves, but we should not reward those who refuse to help themselves.
California has spent billions of dollars addressing homelessness, yet the problem remains visible in communities throughout the state. Common sense says if a solution is not working, it is time to try a different solution.
The nonsense is not limited to one issue. We see it whenever facts are replaced by narratives, responsibility is replaced by excuses, and different standards are applied to different people.
Common sense says tell the truth. Common sense says take responsibility. Common sense says apply the same rules to everyone.
The question is not whether America can find its way back. The question is whether we still have the courage to choose common sense over nonsense.