A Bit More Common Sense?

Thank you to all those who kindly commented on my last reflection regarding a potential “Common Sense Party”. Sadly, no millionaires emerged to sponsor my idea and I’m a little late now to enter the election anyway. But that doesn’t mean we can’t all contribute to a campaign for more common sense in our community and nation. How about it?

 

Let’s start with the common sense idea of voting. Yes, I know that whichever party you vote for, you’ll still get a politician but most of them have good intentions and try hard. Vote for the one that shows the most common sense but don’t abstain. Common sense tells us that is a sure way of getting somebody you don’t want.

 

And then there’s the independence issue. Everybody seems to be telling us we’d be better off going it alone. Rubbish! I’m not in favour of Scots, Welsh, English, Irish or even UK independence (sorry Nigel!) because common sense tells us we all need each other to get along. As the old TEAM acronym reminds us: Together Everyone Achieves More.

 

Common sense tells me that criticising and condemning the other party’s ideas gets me nowhere. We can learn from each other and we can help each other and, yes, that does mean people from other tribes, football teams, schools, sectors and countries regardless of their colour, creed, culture or ability. Charity may well begin at home but it doesn’t end there!

 

Common sense tells me that people with the most have a moral responsibility to help people who have the least not just because we are all human beings but because it is simple common sense that if you have two apples, you should give one to your neighbour who has none. Besides, that is how you make friends!

 

I believe Common Sense is a gift from God given to all and I think if we used it a bit more we might make a better world. What do you think?

It’s only Common Sense!

I was remarking to a friend the other day what fun it would be to start my own political party in the General Election, had I but the time and the money. I would call it “The Common Sense Party” because, in my naïve way, I think that is mainly what is missing in the way we do things today.

 

Our strapline would be something like: “Common Values, Common Vision, Common Sense – Common Join us!” We’d pull together a large group of likeminded people and try to inject a bit more naïve realism into society: a bit more compassion, a bit more down-to-earth sensibleness. But that’s probably how most of the other political parties started, isn’t it?

 

My party would put a penny in the pound on income tax for each of education, health and policing because, after all, you only get what you pay for. We’d stop trying to bribe the public with promises of more for less because common sense says you can’t cut taxes AND provide better services. We’d celebrate diversity and welcome people from other parts of the world who were willing to work and adopt common sense British values.

 

Most of all we’d also expect those with more to support those with less. As Voltaire says: “with great power comes great responsibility.” Nobody needs £50,000 a week, whether they’re a banker or a star footballer and certainly nobody should be living on the streets or wondering how they’ll feed their kids tomorrow.

 

Jesus’ manifesto said something about us needing to be like salt and light in society and offering good news to the poor. Real practical application of that sort of attitude could revolutionise politics!

 

You won’t be able to vote for my party I’m afraid but whoever you do vote for, consider carefully and please use your common sense!