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Common Sense
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Isn't it time we had a Minister of Common Sense?
Before any proposed legislation could be voted on, this Minister must approve it.
Just one bloke - no staff - nobody else involved - no big office.- but the absolute power to thump his desk (not a posh desk) and just say NO!
Nominations please
jacklee
Before any proposed legislation could be voted on, this Minister must approve it.
Just one bloke - no staff - nobody else involved - no big office.- but the absolute power to thump his desk (not a posh desk) and just say NO!
Nominations please
jacklee
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For more on marking an answer as the "Best Answer", please visit our FAQ.You need to be careful these days with the notion of "common sense".
In the multicultural society that allegedly exists in the UK today common sense is viewed as a subjective concept. What is common sense to one person may be seen as no such thing to another. As a manifestation of this consider the qualities required for the post of Justice of the Peace. Along with such things as the ability to absorb information and reach sound decisions of judgement candidates were expected to demonstrate sound "common sense". Until about four years ago, that was. Then a review of the recruitment criteria determined that "common sense" was a far too subjective concept which could not be properly assessed in candidates from different backgrounds, so the requirement was dropped.
So there is no chance of a Minister for such an outdated concept.
In the multicultural society that allegedly exists in the UK today common sense is viewed as a subjective concept. What is common sense to one person may be seen as no such thing to another. As a manifestation of this consider the qualities required for the post of Justice of the Peace. Along with such things as the ability to absorb information and reach sound decisions of judgement candidates were expected to demonstrate sound "common sense". Until about four years ago, that was. Then a review of the recruitment criteria determined that "common sense" was a far too subjective concept which could not be properly assessed in candidates from different backgrounds, so the requirement was dropped.
So there is no chance of a Minister for such an outdated concept.
Should have substituted "reasonable" for "having common sense", NJ. That's a concept which still holds sway in our courts ("reasonable doubt","reasonable excuse" etc) and which keeps lawyers in business. I bet there are still cases appealed from the mags to the High Court which plead that the judgment was not a reasonable finding.
Common sense, on the other hand, was once described by Christmas Humphries QC, sitting at the Old Bailey as "unappealable". He had taken exception to being told that a certain order he proposed was not open to him. This was his pithy response to his clerk: "I shall do it anyway.It's common sense, and in my experience common sense is unappealable" (And he did, and it wasn't questioned) In those days, common sense was clearly understood.
Common sense, on the other hand, was once described by Christmas Humphries QC, sitting at the Old Bailey as "unappealable". He had taken exception to being told that a certain order he proposed was not open to him. This was his pithy response to his clerk: "I shall do it anyway.It's common sense, and in my experience common sense is unappealable" (And he did, and it wasn't questioned) In those days, common sense was clearly understood.
Quite, fred. And so it still is today. Except among the "politically correct" sections of society who seem to take great joy in demolishing any oncept which they seem to find "peculiarly British" - and hence unacceptable. I know what "common sense" means, so do you, so do, so do 95% of the population. The few people that do not grasp its meaning have no common sense.
Common sense is no longer with us then. Because we are now (reluctantly) multicultural does that mean that other cultures do not have the same reasoning as we do? Are we to lose our long held belief that common sense solves most problems. It seems odd that it is now subject to someone from eg Romania to tell us their version of it.
It's quite possible, NJ, that what seems obvious to those of one background as "common sense" will not be that to others. The one's "common sense" may be an unthinking judgment which all of their background would make. I think it common sense to give my workers an extra bowl of gruel at Christmas and that women shouldn't have the vote, but "political correctness" dictates otherwise. "Common sense" of some, when questioned, is likely to supported by the absolute assertion " Well, it stands to reason". All too often , it doesn't.