He 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 (the adults are in charge, not the 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  
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  
mouthwash 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 the  
Ten Commandments became contraband, churches became  
businesses, criminals received better treatment 
than victims, and federal judges stuck their noses in  
everything from 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.