Common Sense, Common Purposes, Common Dreams
I’m tired of the bashing, the negativism, I want to know what they will do. I’m pleased at the variety of winners - shows people are thinking.
I like Obama,, he’s honest and reasonable …
I think Clinton - she really knows hands-on what to do about trying to change the world.
I look for equal rights - equal for everyone - I’m not into politics, I just want them to represent people.
–NE Ohio voters talking to WKSU News Director M.L. Schultze, 1/21/08
For me, what shone through all these statements was their common sense - reasonable, thoughtful assessments of the issues, candidates and campaigns.
Are humans cold calculators of utility or steaming vessels of passion? Are we fiendish agents of evil or cool unflappable saints? mute fungible cogs or talkative problem-solvers? Or are we familial creatures with a talent for reason, logic and science, the gift of speech and storytelling, and social habits of sharing and trading?
All of the above, but it is the last that generates the common sense - both the simple logic of everyday experience and the consensus rising from our shared experiences - that make society and civilization possible.
We reason and talk together to find our commonalities and differences, make stories about the world, and share those stories to generate the values, beliefs and truths we hold in common. Common sense changes as events and perceptions change, and is always open to challenge and modification, new stories about what’s important.
We need those stories both to shore up our personal common sense and to create national narratives of what our nation is about - who we are, what we want to do and how we want to do it, and stories about what we fear and what we cherish: our common purposes and common dreams. In a liberal democracy, these national narratives construct our moral order and our public will. Such stories also tell the rest of the world about the common purposes and dreams of a nation.
But what stories have we been telling our neighbors? That they are all irredeemably bad and only we know how to fix them? That we’re the most powerful nation on earth and if they don’t do as we say we’ll bomb them to oblivion? That our war on terrorism is more important than the lives of their children? That we’re so terrified of terrorists that we practice torture and give up our own freedoms?
In the last seven years our national narrative has been hijacked by neo-cons who believe that the world moral order is grounded in some divine purpose as revealed to themselves, and that the common sense of ordinary people must not be allowed to interfere.
Bush believes that he has been appointed by God to bring about a utopian world for powerful corporations and rich entrepreneurs. Bush has no common sense - his subjective sense of certainty is all he needs. And he commands vast resources to write our national narratives for us - corporate-funded think-tanks, speechwriters, screenwriters, editors, pollsters, political commentators, syndicated columnists.
We are told we must be self-reliant, then brainwashed to believe we need big houses, fast cars, 10 oz steaks, and huge TV screens, then blamed for being gullible and greedy. We are exhorted to be uncritical patriots, but systematically frightened by myths that walls will keep out immigrants, that voter ID will keep bad guys from voting, and that surveillance of our private communications stops suicide bombers. We are constantly reminded that we are too dumb to know what is good for us.
What does common sense tell us about the 935 false statements supporting the invasion of Iraq? What common sense is there to claim that the first use of nuclear weapons is “the ultimate instrument to prevent the use of weapons of mass destruction.”
Which among us believe that waterboarding is not torture? What kind of common sense justifies collective punishment of Palestinian civilians by cutting off fuel and supplies for something they can’t control? Do we-the-people want our president to have unlimited executive powers? Is there a broad public consensus that Kucinich and Ron Paul shouldn’t participate in candidate debates on TV?
Liberal democracy should means self-determination - the ability to have one’s stories heard and discussed by others, to share in generating common purposes and common dreams, and to participate in making up the larger narratives that hold society together,
Common sense requires granting full human rights to every human. It teaches that denunciation, dehumanization and demonization don’t help us resolve differences - what they do is make possible every kind of cruelty and violence.
Like the sensible citizens quoted above, most ordinary people are more level-headed, practical and down-to-earth than elites flattered by ideologies and cushioned by wealth. Local, independent media like WKSU help us work out consensus about major issues. Our strength is not a subjective certainty that we are right, but a confidence in the common sense of people everywhere.
There is a plan to take over the world. The stories to cue it up are already circulating. Unless these stories are rejected by the common sense of Americans, they may prevail.
Common sense - both our everyday experience and our shared experience as Americans - suggests that as a first step we need to impeach and prosecute those responsible for the death, terror and dehumanization that stalks the world today. Then we can work out, together, our common purposes and common dreams.
Before joining Senator Glenn’s Washington staff in 1985, Caroline Arnold founded a successful small business and served three terms on the Kent (OH) Board of Education. In retirement she is active with civic and environmental organizations in Kent, and serves on the board of Family & Community Services of Portage Gounty.
Copyright Record Publishing Co, LLC. 1995-2008
Speaking of Common Dreams, I supported this great place with a cash donation, how many other posters here have? I’ve never given a nickel to anyone or anything before, which says how much I appreciate this service to the progressive community.
This plan to take over the world started long, long ago, so impeachment and prosecution isn’t going to cure what ails our country. We don’t need fixing, we need a rebirth. A rebirth without the misogyny, racism, and homophobia that we were weaned on. These sickening influences have never been eliminated and continue to fuel the empire.
Hoa binh
OK. I’m going to make one last pitch for Ron Paul and then I will shut up. In the commentary to the article about DK pulling out, people who support RP were assumed to not be “Progressive” or didn’t understand the evil. If you’re saying a Progressive can’t have original ideas or see alternative solutions to common problems–guilty as charged. But, this is irrelevant, altho I can say I’ve never voted for an R for President–voting since 1968. The biggest complaint with the Paul campaign is that it has not clarified an actual plan, altho it can be gleaned from assorted interviews.
Yes, RP is a right wing libertarian. The real question is how do those ideas translate to action. Financial: Freeze the budget except for entitlements and military. Then start chopping the military. Getting the budget to 1998 levels is the goal. In an interview on the News Hour, when asked about getting rid of SocialSec and Medicare, he said he’d like to get something going for young people, but if we want to save it for those who have paid in all their lives we will have to slash the military budget. If we don’t, “people will wind up in the streets”. Who, then, is actually concerned about what happens to poor old people?www.pbs.org/newshour/bb/politics/july-dec07/paul_10-12.html
Military/foreign policy: get out of Iraq, and everywhere else. Stop interfering in internal affairs of other nations.
Civil liberties: get rid of Dept of Homeland Security, close Guantanamo and other secret prisons. Appoint judges that respect habeas corpus, etc
Now, all the other stuff. There will probably be some trade-offs. Peace and civil liberties, to me, is worth getting rid of the Dept of Education which tries to control curriculum and has bureaucratized the schools almost to death. This will require legislation. Environmental-yes he’d like to get rid of the EPA. He has said “This is not a priority”–he has bigger fish to fry.
Regarding union rights, abortion (the hardest for me), “privatization”, most of this is legislation that will not be overturned. Also, where do you think we will be in 4 years if we don’t do the basics that RP wants to do? Does anyone think we’ll be more free? Abortion will be easier to get? The worst that can happen to abortion is that it will go to the states. I have read (unverified) that 87% of counties do not have abortion services now. The food supply, however, has no place to go and will be destroyed by agribusiness. Unions? What kind of shape are they in now?
Medicare has been in debt for some time. What do think will happen in 5-10 years if we don’t start reducing debt?
What do you think will happen to anything if we don’t start reducing debt? John McCain sees nothing but war ahead and wants to provide federal subsidies to Florida homeowners so they can afford insurance! Romney wants to put billions into Michigan to “help” the auto industry. You know, the industry that ignored the rule “waste not, want not”, convinced its’ unions to oppose efforts of Clinton/Gore to set CAFE standards in 1993, when they might have done some good, and took $1 billion of taxpayers money to produce fuel efficient cars, then laughed at the Prius in 1997.
There will be no national health insurance no matter who is elected. THERE IS NO MONEY. The “savings” will be spent on care that the insurance companies have denied. With Ron Paul, you get an FDA that stops persecuting doctors, you get legislation to protect physicians’ rights to use alternative and nutritional healing methods. For those not aware of the incredible savings here, you would find health care to be cheaper by huge percentages and suddenly affordable for most of us. What’s left would be quite easy to cover. Don’t believe me? Try silver catheters for $25 a month that can prevent UTIs costing thousands of dollars a month. Search “Curaderm” for an eye-opener of what’s out there.
The point is, not what he’s against, things he recognizes he won’t be able to deal with, but what he’s for. This, despite MSM efforts to discredit him, is a “man of integrity” (to quote Dennis Kucinich). Imagine what they would say about you if you ran for President promising to cut off all corporate subsidies and televise FOMC meetings, not to mention shutting down the military-industrial complex and aid to Israel (and all other countries).
A Ron Paul presidency would do everything possible to end the War on Drugs. He has pledged to pardon all non-violent federal drug offenders.
There’s lots more to say about Constitutionality and finance but I hope I’ve convinced at least some. You know, Nelson Mandela was in jail for 27 years and one day, when things were not too good for the gov’t in the late 80’s, someone in gov’t realized this man had been in jail 27 years and none of them had ever actually talked to him. When they did, they found a reasonable man who knew how to set priorities (who can forget the photo op of the new President in his dashiki, having tea with the wives of former PM’s). I’m not saying Ron Paul is Nelson Mandela, I’m saying that direct conversation might prove he’s not so scary and has a lot of good ideas. Caroline Arnold talks about Common Sense. Let’s use some.
Sometimes it takes a capitalist to catch a capitalist pig. Sometimes the answer is counter-intuitive.
Peace to all
Dead on, since1492,
The only thing we should thank Bush & company for is baring the iron fist of US policy that has been in effect for 200 years.
Until he and his controllers came along, we as citizens only saw the velvet glove of policies that in reality took away hope of many citizens of many countries over the last centuries.
Now that we see the reality of our actions used both against us and the rest of the world for all its bringing of so much sorrow to the world in the name of death, chaos and greed.
I think since1492’s post bears repeating:
” This plan to take over the world started long, long ago, so impeachment and prosecution isn’t going to cure what ails our country. We don’t need fixing, we need a rebirth. A rebirth without the misogyny, racism, and homophobia that we were weaned on. These sickening influences have never been eliminated and continue to fuel the empire.
Hoa binh”
as a matter of fact i sent CD a check during each and every one of there fund drives. Sometimes the check was only five dollars, when i had more i gave twenty. The point is everyone who posts here should send CD at least a dollar during their next drive, which should be coming up here. How hard would that be for you? ONE DOLLAR, plus the 41 cents postage. Its less than a coffee at Starbucks, and better for the environment too! Common Dreams is a great website with interesting commentary, and we should do everything within reason to support this website!!!
“Like the sensible citizens quoted above…
“I’m tired of the bashing, the negativism, I want to know what they will do. I’m pleased at the variety of winners - shows people are thinking.
I like Obama,, he’s honest and reasonable …
I think Clinton - she really knows hands-on what to do about trying to change the world.
I look for equal rights - equal for everyone - I’m not into politics, I just want them to represent people.”‘
What is sensible about these comments? They sound as if they’re parroting what they here on CNN or worse Fox. These people aren’t thinking for themselves so much as they are regurgitating what they think sounds intelligent. It looks to me as if Ms. Arnold got an A on her essay and was encouraged to send it in to the local paper. To anybody that hasn’t been paying attention, there aren’t any choices left. Ms. Arnold makes it sound like we have a great open society where people are people and love is in the airwaves.
I’ll say it again…
http://www.ontheissues.org/ Ralph…Ralph_Nader.htm
We needed Ralph Nader as President in 2000.
We needed Ralph Nader as President in 2004.
We NEED Ralph Nader as President in 2008.
Never before as we do now.
Let’s be reasonable. All men should be Barred and Banned from all positions of power and authority in America, foremost among these arenas, Politics.
Only Grandmothers should be allowed to hold any elected office.
And of course only women should have voting rights.
I mean, does this not just seem like common sense at this point?
From Satan to Ghengis Khan to Pol Pot to Cheney & Bush is there maybe a common thread here? hello? Sisters, help.