does anyone remember?

[mnko]

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 earn) and reliable parenting 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 six-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 they themselves failed to do in disciplining their unruly children.
It declined even further when schools were required to get parental consent to administer Panadol, sun lotion or a Band Aid to a student - but could not inform the parents when a student became pregnant and wanted to have an abortion.
Common Sense lost the will to live as the Ten Commandments became contraband, 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 can 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.

[Liney]

If Common Sense has passed away, part of the problem is in blaming everyone but ourselves for its demise. I think that it's too convenient to say that it's the government's responsibility, but we surely need to take charge of the decisions we make in our own lives. Cutting up the credit cards, introducing yourself to your neighbours and actually living by the moral code you profess to hold might be a good start.

[smurfchops]

mnko, at last you are writing sense.

[Backdrifter]

Personally I'm not fussed about the details of the McD's coffee burn case. Maybe they were negligent in heating coffee to 20 degrees above industry standard, although that sounds highly unlikely to me. The spirit of mnko's point is well taken, at least by me. Even if the facts of the coffee case have been distorted, there are genuinely opportunistic lawsuits.

I also agree with Liney. The public have rolled over and accepted, or in some cases been responsible for, some of the stupidity that afflicts us now. I'm no huge fan of the Blair government but I sometimes hear them being blamed for all sorts of ludicrous things. Too easy - often, people have to look a little closer to home, but of course prefer not to.

[fee-is-me]

Lol... no grief intended, mnko.

I am simply curious as to where you got this particular piece of writing :0)

[angeldraws]

RIP oh Common Sense.....I, for one, will forever mourn you....
Some excellent points raised by mnko......

[ermintrude35]

fee.... here is 219,000 links for you to choose from...

http://www.google.co.uk/search?hl=en&q=Today+w e+mourn+the+passing+of+a+beloved+old+friend%2C +Common+Sense&btnG=Google+Search&meta=

[fee-is-me]

Blimey, I feel spoilt! :0)

Thankyou!

[Pippa68]

Gawd knows how many times I have had this one in an email too!