Common Sense: 233 Years Later

In 1776, Thomas Paine published a pamphlet titled Common Sense. Paine wrote the pamphlet in a style that the common individual could understand and argued for the independence of America from British rule. Common Sense answered the questions that lingered among Americans who were caught between supporting the British crown or supporting the revolution. Using common sense examples, Thomas Paine cultivated the spirit of the American revolution that eventually won it's independence from the British crown.

Two-hundred and thirty-three years later we have our own revolution being fought here in Rhode Island. We are not fighting a monarch or aristocracy, instead, we fight a battle of ideas and extremes. Rhode Island is dominated by the Democratic Party and little opposition comes from the opposing Republican Party. Because of this lack of balance, the extreme ideas of the far left are able to slowly climb it's way through the rank and file Democratic Party. Our state spends too much and taxes too high. The ethics of our republic are constantly under attack because there is no one to defend them, no opposition to point out the mistakes of the Democratic Party. In Rhode Island, it should be an opposition gold mine. The elected officials we have now should have been defeated elections ago, Rhode Island should be an opposition gold mine. However, the Republican Party does not support pragmatic ideas that can fix Rhode Island. Instead the party has decided to answerer extremism of the Democratic Party with more extremism of their own.

This battle between two extremes puts Rhode Island voters in a very difficult situation. Election after election we are forced to decide between the lesser of two extremes. Rhode Island, it is time we change the choices that we have. I have been an avid supporter of the Moderate Party and their goal of obtaining ballot access and I do so because of the Moderate Party's belief in centrist government. The Moderate Party does not reach out to the vocal minorities that have taken over both the Democratic and Republican parties. Instead, the Moderate Party reaches out to those in between, those individuals with common sense. When people ask about the Moderate Party I simply reply we are about common sense ideas to fix our state's problems. “Common sense, what a good idea,” they say. This concept that we can have a successful and efficient government by using common sense and pragmatic methodology is something that Rhode Islanders want, and more so, it is what Rhode Island needs.

This is not a violent revolution, this is a revolution of the way Rhode Island does things. Enough with the extremes, look at where it has taken us. We face a rising deficit, failing school systems, and elected officials who violate ethic laws. Now is not the time that we resort to choosing candidates who promote ideas that just make no sense. Now is the time that we stand in the center, now is the time we use common sense to fix the problems we face. Two-hundred and thirty-three years later, this concept of common sense is still relevant and always will be. We all share common beliefs and understandings, let us show those in power that we want pragmatic, common sense ideas to solve our state's problems. Let us choose those who promote the idea that Rhode Island does not have to sit in the backwater of economic security. Let us choose those who promote the idea that Rhode Island can balance a budget, fix its schools, and lower taxes so that business can thrive in our state. Let Rhode Island gain it's spirit of common sense.

With hope,

Matthew D. Lenz