It's Only Common Sense!

No matter how “book smart” a person is, it is meaningless if he doesn't have any “common sense”. “Common Sense” is defined as sound practical judgment independent of specialized knowledge or training.

Is it “common sense” for us to have 60,000 military personnel stationed in Germany, 65 years after the end of WW 11? (also the thousands stationed in So. Korea, Okinawa, and Kosovo etc.). Are these troops really needed in those countries? Shouldn't the host countries pay for our troops, or better still, take over their own defense? It seems they are using us as a “cash cow”, thereby saving themselves from having to finance their own military defense. Isn't it “common sense” to bring those troops home?

Another area where “common sense” is woefully lacking is in the energy policy, or lack thereof, of our government. Why are we spending, therefore sending billions of dollars to other countries, some of whom are unfriendly to us, to get our energy needs satisfied, when we have more than enough right here in our own land and off-shore? Just recently, we gave the country of Brazil $2 billion to assist them in their quest for oil off the coast of Brazil. Why are we subsidizing another country when we are prohibiting energy exploration right here in our own country? Experts have determined that the U.S. has more natural energy resources than all the Middle East countries combined, yet we still import 60% of our oil and natural gas from overseas. To me, it's a no-brainer - take care of ourselves instead of relying on unreliable sources of energy, like we are doing now? Isn't that “common sense”?

In addition, where's the “common sense” when it comes to passing laws restricting outrageous lawsuits which makes the cost of living burdensome to practically everybody. What's wrong with instituting tort reform? Junk and frivolous lawsuits make our medical costs and our everyday living expenses more than they should be because of the fear of being sued by avaricious lawyers. Wherever tort reform was passed in the various states, the costs of medical care and costs of running a business came tumbling down and created a positive economic climate inside those states. Why shouldn't the same thing happen on the national level? Is the lawyer lobby that powerful? C'mon, let “common sense” prevail.

Finally, why in the name of “common sense”, can't we control our borders, thereby controlling our out-of-control immigration problem. What genius figured out that an illegal alien, who has birthed a child while in the U.S. illegally, should have that child be automatically declared a citizen (so-called anchor babies)? Upwards of 12 million illegal aliens are in our country, taking jobs from other American citizens, and which has increased the incidence of crime, human trafficking, drug smuggling along with the added financial burdens to our schools, hospitals, and government services.

So yes, a degree in “common sense” should be a requirement to complete any course of study in our schools, but, alas, it can't be accomplished when “political correctness” is so pervasive in our society. Now, that's a “common sense” statement, anybody disagree?

Conservative commentary by Chuck Lehmann