Common Sense 250

The Common Sense Papers Project

Welcome to Common Sense Politics. We’re dedicated to rebooting the American political system, with a focus on liberty, dignity, and common sense.

When we started in 2023 our mission for healing the political divisions in American politics drove us to reimagine Constitutional democracy: begin with a movement, unite all citizens, and strive for the common good. Now we serve all Americans who want real solutions to real problems and are thrilled to share our vision with you.

We hope you enjoy this journey with us. If you have any questions or comments, please contact us.

My Political Why

This post is preliminary to the publication of The Common Sense Papers – A collection of essays written in favor of a new national independent political coalition for the common good of all U.S. citizens. I want to address why I am starting this project. This journey crystallized in another country, watching a different crisis unfold, and having the mysterious voice inside my head start asking questions that begged to be answered.

Common Sense Papers Part 1

The Opening “Pitch”

1 – Introduction to The Common Sense Papers

2 – The Most Important Political Decision of the Century

3 – Politics and the Dirty Language

4 – The Problem: The Politics of The Widening Gyre

5 – The Solution: The Common Sense 250 Platform

Common Sense Papers Part 2

The Playing Field (aka, The Importance of the Constitution)

6 – A Creedal Nation

7 – A Democratic Republic

8 – Checks and Balances

9 – Liberty and Dignity

Common Sense Papers Part 3

Mental Models for Contemplation (aka, Rambling Thoughts about Political Playbooks)

10 – Political Power Over People

11 – Political Economy Part 1: Capitalism

12 – Political Economy Part 2: Corporate Welfare

13 – Political Economy Part 3: Where Do Profits Come From?

14 – Political Economy Part 4: Monopoly USA

15 – Political Economy Part 5: International Trade

16 – Political Economy Part 6: Dimes, Dollars, and Digits

17 – Political Economy Part 7: Debt Economics

18 – Political Freedom: Notes on Freedom

19 – Political Philosophy & Spirituality

Question your maps and models of the universe, both inner and outer, and continually test them against the raw input of reality. Our maps are still maps, approximating the landscape of truth from the territories of the knowable — incomplete representational models that always leave more to map, more to fathom, because the selfsame forces that made the universe also made the figuring instrument with which we try to comprehend it.

– Maria Popova – The Marginalian

Common Sense Papers Part 4

Defects of the Current Two-Party System (aka, The Rules of the Game Don’t Matter)

20 – Polarization Through Political Sorting and Identity Politics

21 – Gridlock on Key Issues

22 – Gresham’s Law

23 – Radical Extremes

24 – Candidate Selection Control (aka, Gatekeeping)

25 – “I’m the President and This is My Administrative State”

26 – Big Politics Gathers Power

27 – Big Media Plays Divisions

28 – Big Corporations Play Both Sides (or get played)

29 – Elections Come and Go, Not Much Changes—Does Your Vote Matter?

30 – Risk of Yarvin Vision

Common Sense Papers Part 5

Moral Crisis & Political Imperatives (aka, The Crowd Knows When the Game Is Bad)

31 – What Is a Moral Compass?

32 – The Rights Movement

33 – The Ancient Virtues We Still Need

34 – Why Virtue?

35 – The War Debates

36 – The Abortion Debates

37 – The Essential Services Debates

38 – The Logic of Moral Philosophy & Emotional Reasoning

39 – A More Complete Moral Compass

40 – Innovating Beyond the Two-Party System (coming soon)

41 – Exit, Voice, and Loyalty (coming soon)

42 – Open Space to Disagree (coming soon)

43 – The Personal Cost of Polarization (coming soon)

44 – New Wine in New Bottles (coming soon)

45 – The Office Analogy (coming soon)