What ever happened to common sense?

Have you ever had a day when you see a few things that just make you shake your head at the senselessness of it all?

all photos courtesy of Pixbay
Early this morning I was walking along the beach. I live outside of a fishing village. I watched with interest as the pangas were returning with the catch of the night. Boats were laden to the point of capsizing with the weight of the fish.

Two men jump out and try to haul the boat up onto the beach. The boat is too heavy for two and they don’t manage to beach it sufficiently. One guy runs off, presumably to get help. The other holding a flimsy rope to keep the boat close to shore.

The tide is coming in and with the winds blowing, the water is quite rough. The boat starts slipping back into the water. I don’t know if the guy panicked or what, but he dropped the rope and ran. Perhaps to find his buddy.

The boat slips out further into the water, turns sideways against the waves. It doesn’t take a rocket scientist to know what happened next. Of course, the boat capsizes and everything, the catch, their equipment and the boat's motor is on its way to Davey Jone’s locker.

As I pass my neighbour’s house, the kids are crying, the mother is screaming, Dad is outside revving his motorcycle, and their eight dogs are all joining in the early morning cacophony. Last night they were up partying until 2 am. The kids too.

Now they were supposed to get up, all bright eyed and bushy tailed and go to school. School here starts at 7 am as the kids go in three shifts. (that’s another post). I guess no-one is happy in that household today.

Another neighbour was outside chopping wood for his cook fire. But the way he was chopping it will take him until tomorrow before he has enough wood for kindling. He was standing next to the block of wood lying on its side, trying to chop down the centre with a dull axe.

I have a gardener that comes to help me do the heavy grunt work, (yea, I know. But I am old and can longer do some stuff).

Every week, at least once a week, sometimes twice for good measure, we have the same conversation. He and his wife have to work too hard to make a living. (Sound familiar?)

We go over the same things each week. Things he could do to save money and work smarter. They buy pre-chopped wood for cooking fires. Expensive for here. If he bought propane it would work out cheaper. We have done the math together.

She sells food that she prepares in the local market every day. But she needs to take a taxi to get there and back. Expensive too. Instead of buying from local farmers at the market, she takes another taxi to go to the expensive supermarket.

I just shake my head when I see him heading my way because I know what the song and dance will be.

So I asked myself again, where did the common sense go? Oh, he passed away some time ago.

Obituary of Common Sense!

Today, we mourn the passing of an old friend by the name of Common Sense.

Common Sense lived a long life but died from heart failure at the brink of the Millennium. No one really knows how old he was since his birth records were long ago lost in bureaucratic red tape. 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 from rain, the early bird gets the worm and life aren'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 feminism, 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 legislation.

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; when reports were heard of six year old boys charged with sexual harassment for kissing a classmate; when a teen was suspended for taking a swig of mouthwash after lunch; when a teacher was fired for reprimanding an unruly student. It declined even further when schools had to get parental consent to administer aspirin to a student but couldn't inform the parent when a 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. His three stepbrothers survive him: Rights, Tolerance and Whiner.

Not many attended his funeral because so few realized he was gone.
Author Unknown
Source: http://www.naute.com/thinkery/obituary.phtml