Common Sense's philosophy

What values inform Common Sense?  Here's some.

Common Sense is a pragmatist and believes that real problems need real solutions.  Adopting a rigid stand and applying it unthinkingly to all problems is not simply naive and foolish, it is often silly and preposterous to the point of being stupid.  Dogma doesn't solve problems.  Pragmatism does.

Common Sense is not a Democrat nor a Republican but thinks that neither of the two major political parties does a very good job of representing the American center.

Common Sense is not anti-business but believes that over the last 50 years or so big business has entirely abandoned social responsibility for America and its wellbeing.  To often business has become simply about profit not just as a necessary business goal but as the only goal at the expense of employees and often investors.  Big business, in particular, seems to have forgotten that without a healthy society business has no customers.

Common Sense is neither pro nor anti government but believes that government is absolutely necessary to insure the wellbeing of society there being no other justification for government.  Governments that fail to insure the wellbeing of their citizens don't last as the governed society doesn't last.  One need only look at the second and third world to understand this reality.

Common Sense believes that less government is almost always better than more government.  That said, it is a proper role of government to ensure that large organizations, ether businesses or social, do not abuse their power to the detriment of society as a whole.  As ever larger entities have become ever more common in American society it is increasingly necessary for government to engage this role.

Common Sense believes in fiscal conservatism and social liberalism.  Social welfare programs are not inherently bad.  Indeed the evidence for their benefits is compelling.  But, social welfare programs need to be paid for.  The alternative is not simply an implicit tax on society, it is the diminishment and possible destruction of society.

Common Sense believes that it is an entirely appropriate role for government to act to create and insure a just and equitable society for societies that are not both just and equitable simply do not survive.  They fail, often by disruptive violence.

Common Sense believes in Democracy.  Common Sense also believes that when a majority tramples on the fundamental rights of  minorities they are nothing but a mob.  Democracy and pure majority rule are not the same thing.

Common Sense believes in free market economies.  The ability of such economies to generate goods and services for their customers is unequaled.  But, Common Sense also recognizes that not all issues can best be addressed by free markets.  Some issues, particularly social justice and welfare, do not admit to profit oriented market driven solutions.  Creating inexpensive shirts is not the same sort of problem as providing universal education.

Common Sense believes that facts are facts and as such are not malleable  to support some position.  Distortions and half truths do not help civil discourse particularly when difficult issues are involved.  While there are gray areas and complexities to be sure they are far less common than political discourse would have the public believe.

Common Sense believes that we are all in the American experiment together.  Shared goals, shared work, and when needed shared sacrifice is a central value in American society.  Those who forget this value do great damage to American society.  They diminish it and make America far less than it could be.

These values inform Common Sense's comments.