Today, we mourn the passing of an old friend - Common Sense. Common Sense lived a long life but died in the United States of heart failure early in the new millennium.

No one really knows how old he was, as his birth records were lost long ago in bureaucratic red tape. He selflessly devoted his life to service in schools, hospitals, churches, homes and factories, helping folks get jobs done without fanfare or foolishness.

Decades of petty rules, silly laws and frivolous lawsuits held no power over Common Sense. He was credited with cultivating such valued lessons as to know when to come in out of the rain, why the early bird gets the worm and that life isn't always fair.

Common Sense lived by simple, sound financial policies like don't spend more than you earn, reliable parenting strategies like the adults are in charge, not the kids, and it's okay to come in second.

From the industrial revolution, the Great Depression and the technological revolution, Common Sense survived cultural and educational trends including body piercing, whole language and new math, but his health declined when he became infected with the "If It Only Helps One Person Then It Is Worth It" virus.

In recent decades, his waning strength proved no match for the ravages of well-intentioned but overbearing regulations. He watched in pain as good people became ruled by self-seeking lawyers. His health rapidly deteriorated when schools implemented zero tolerance policies.

Reports of a 6-year-old boy charged with sexual harassment for kissing a classmate; a teen suspended for taking a swig of mouthwash after lunch; and a teacher fired for reprimanding an unruly student only worsened his condition.

Common Sense lost his will to live as the 10 Commandments became contraband, churches became businesses, criminals received more rights than victims and federal judges stuck their noses into everything from the Boy Scouts Association to professional sports.

When an individual too stupid to realize that a steaming cup of coffee was hot was awarded a huge settlement, Common Sense threw in the towel. As the end neared, Common Sense drifted in and out of logic, but was kept informed of development regarding questionable regulations such as those for low flow toilets, rocking chairs, stepladders and auto emissions.

Common Sense finally succumbed when while the U.S. was fighting a war on terrorism, a federal judge declared the Pledge of Allegiance to be unconstitutional.

Common Sense was preceded in death by his parents, truth and trust, his wife, discretion, his daughter, responsibility, and his son, reason.

He is survived by two-step siblings, My Rights, and I'm a Whiner. Not many attended his funeral because so few realized he was gone.