by jrob Moderator 29 Oct 2008

My parents told me about Mr. Common Sense early in my life and told me I would do well to call on him when making decisions. It seems he was always around in my early years but less and less as time passed by until today I read his obituary. Please join me in a moment of silence in remembrance. For Common Sense had served us all so well for so many generations.

Obituary

Common Sense

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 intentions but
overbearing regulations were set in place. Reports of a six-year-old boy charged with sexual harassment for kissing a class mate; 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 Aspirin, sun lotion or a sticky plaster 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.

Common Sense was preceded in death by his parents, Truth an d Trust; his wife, Discretion; his daughter, Responsibility; and his son, Reason.

He is survived by three stepbrothers; I Know My Rights, Someone Else is to Blame, and I'm a Victim.

Not many attended his funeral because so few realized he was gone. If you still remember him, pass this on. If not, join the majority and do nothing.

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Comments (8)

by meganne 31 Oct 2008

I've just read Marji's post and wholeheartedly agree.
In Australia, voting is compulsory and if you don't vote you get fined.

Now I'm not saying this is any better than having the freedom to choose to vote, which means the people interested enough in politics will vote and those you don't care, won't, so, supposedly, you should get a better government????? But at least (Here in Aus) the majority rules.

And we can claim that here in Aus WE aren't apathetic when it comes to voting.

We may whinge about being forced to vote, but come polling day we all go out and do our duty and then if we don't like the government that gets into power we can't blame it on anyone but ourselvses.

It is such a shame that so much of the "Obituary" is oh so sadly true, as I keep telling my sons, I am so disgusted with the way I see the values (of a lot of people) in today's world are changing, for the worse.

Especially now that everyone in the world is paying for those greedy, selfish people who spent money they didn't have, on luxuries they couldn't afford, then refused to pay the price of their greed and now all of us have to suffer by bailing them out.

Yes even us Aussies are paying for the greed of those who just caused the problems in the States.

At the moment, it's costing us an extra 30c in every US dollar for every thing we buy from Overseas and most of us have lost a third, or more, off our retirement investment savings (Superannuation), which means we cannot retire at retirement age but will have to work until we no longer physically able to and even our homes have been devalued.

"Common Sense lived by simple, sound financial policies (don't spend more than you earn) "

Excuse the whinge but this one is really eating at me right now, because our retirement plans have just gone out the window. Ray will have to keep working until he's 70 because we won't be able to live on his reduced retirement pension, and we can't move back to my home because I no longer have enough money in my superannuation fund to pay out my mortgage, so i'll have to keep renting my home out to stangers.

And I know, you could say, I should feel lucky, or be happy, to have a home of my own! But believe me, I damn well worked for it, 14 hours a day, six days a week for 15 years and I still have a mortgage mostly thanks to my third husband who tried to take it all from me and ended up costing me $50,000 of MY original Superannuation, when he came into my life with only a car full of clothes and the car wasn't even his but belonged to the company he worked for.

Sorry, but knowing Ray won't be able to retire next year so we can move back to my home and an easier lifestyle, is only adding to my current distress. I don't want him to have to keep working, he already has heart problems.

Again, sorry for the whinge, it probably sounds really selfish.

3 comments

by marjialexa 31 Oct 2008

No, it doesn't sound selfish, Meg. It sounds like we're in the same boat. I've worked since I was 14, now when I need my pension because DH died, it's not there. People bought homes for half a million, now we have to bail them out with our little ranch houses & our savings. We're being penalized because we actually paid our debts. The world is going to hell in a handbag, global warming, etc., & nobody can get their nose out of their cell phones long enough to notice. I like the Aussie system, MAKE them vote. So sorry Ray won't be able to retire next year, that must hurt terribly. Bud took reduced retirement at 62 because of health, then died at 63. We had that precious time, so glad we did. I hope things are better for you soon, I think of you a lot. Love you, Marji

by meganne 01 Nov 2008

Oh Marji, I'm so sorry you lost your DH so young, that must have been so devastating for you, especially just when you were ready to ease up and enjoy retirement together. Why can't our men live longer and reap the rewards of their hard work, it's really so sad so many of us women end our lives alone, without the ones we love most. My Ray turned 63 on Friday & I cherish every day we have together.
God bless you dear friend, and thank you for your thoughts. hugs always, Meganne

by jrob 01 Nov 2008

I don't think you are selfish, I think those people who STOLE our golden years are selfish....Preach sister!

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by marjialexa Moderator 30 Oct 2008

Wish I could say this was funny, but it's too true. And besides, I've been watching election coverage in USA. And our children are growing up thinking cell phones and plasma TVs are human rights, not luxuries. If you want to do something, don't send e-mails, Americans, and think you've 'done' something. Find out the actual policies of the people you're voting for, and GET OUT AND VOTE!!! The judge that handed down that "coffee" payout was elected by somebody!! People in Central America and Africa and other places in the world walk miles and risk their lives to exercise their right to vote. USA can't even get people to register, and less than half of those registered even bother to cast a ballot. Common Sense died when free people gave up their right to be free, and allowed others to make decisions for them, then called themselves 'victims'. It's supposed to be a participatory democracy, folks! How is it that there are over 50% women in the population, and we have no such % of representation in Washington? Muslim 3rd world countries have women chief executives, the USA has yet to elect a woman. Oh, but we do get all upset because Muslim women wear headscarves and are 'opressed'. If you want to really do something, don't e-mail stuff to everybody on your list, offer to drive them to the polls! Volunteer to register voters. Understand that one vote does make a difference. Call your representatives and senators. Demand campaign reform. Think about it: Could Abraham Lincold be elected today? He was poor. Or FDR, heavens, he was a cripple! How well would that play on TV. Stop letting things happen, and MAKE them happen! We have the government we deserve, unfortunately, because we do nothing to change it. Women, I am asking you to look at your hands, and understand the immense power that rests there. Those hands zip up jackets, cook healthy meals, wipe runny noses. Those hands hold the steering wheel of school buses like Miss Charlie's, they nurse, they type, they teach, they make widgets in factories. And those hands can be raised to heaven in prayer, and they can pick up a pen and write to a congressman. They can pull the lever in a voting booth, and teach their children & grandchildren to do the same. We have ads that tell children to "just say no" to drugs, well Women, I tell you to "just say NO!" to stupidity, apathy and ignorance. And those are just our elected officials, snicker. DO one thing, a little thing, anything. Truly, it all makes a difference. Know your power, don't claim powerlessness. You create life, bear and nurture it to maturity. It is the most awesome power in the world. You are co-creators with God of humanity. Make it good, because WomanPower is amazing. You don't have to 'take' power, you already have it! Just KNOW you have it, then use it with wisdom & kindness. I love you all, Marji
PS, so it this what the "Personal" thing is for? Uhh, I hope so, because it's very 'personal' to me.

1 comment

by jrob 01 Nov 2008

And all God's people said, Amen!

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by tolgamum 30 Oct 2008

This really strikes a chord. Bureaucratic 'red tape' has much to answer for. One wonders what good advice younger generations will have to recall when the 'older brigade' are gone?? Such maudlin thoughts however must be banished; so like lbrow I'll pass this on now.