Today  we mourn the passing of a beloved old friend,  Common Sense, who has been with us for many  years. No one knows for sure how old he was,  since his birth records were long ago lost in  bureaucratic red tape.

He will be  remembered as having cultivated such valuable  lessons as:

- Knowing when to come in out  of the rain;
- Why the early bird gets the  worm;
- Life isn’t always fair;
- and  maybe it was my fault.

Common Sense lived  by simple, sound financial policies (don’t spend  more than you can earn) and reliable strategies  (adults, not children, are in  charge).

His health began to deteriorate  rapidly when well-intentioned but overbearing  regulations were set in place. Reports of a  6-year-old boy charged with sexual harassment  for kissing a classmate; teens suspended from  school for using mouthwash after lunch; and a  teacher fired for reprimanding an unruly  student, only worsened his  condition.

Common Sense lost ground when  parents attacked teachers for doing the job that  they themselves had failed to do in disciplining  their unruly children. It declined even further  when schools were required to get parental  consent to administer sun lotion or an aspirin  to a student; but could not inform parents when  a student became pregnant and wanted to have an  abortion.

Common Sense lost the will to  live as the churches became businesses; and  criminals received better treatment than their  victims. Common Sense took a beating when you  couldn’t defend yourself from a burglar in your  own home and the burglar could sue you for  assault.

Common Sense finally gave up the  will to live, after a woman failed to realize  that a steaming cup of coffee was hot. She  spilled a little in her lap, and was promptly  awarded a huge settlement. Common Sense was  preceded in death, by his parents, Truth and  Trust, by his wife, Discretion, by his daughter,  Responsibility, and by his son,  Reason.

He is survived by his 4  stepbrothers; I Know My Rights, I Want It Now,  Someone Else Is To Blame, and I’m A  Victim

Not many attended his funeral  because so few realized he was gone. If you  still remember him, pass this on. If not, join  the majority and do nothing.