I THOUGHT the following ‘obituary’ was applicable to the coalition Government’s recent decisions.

Today we mourn the passing of a beloved old friend, Common Sense, who has been with us for many years.

No-one knows for sure how old he was, since his birth records were long ago lost in bureaucratic red tape.

Common Sense lived by simple, sound financial policies and reliable strategies.

His health began to deteriorate rapidly when well-intentioned but overbearing regulations were set in place.

Common Sense lost ground when parents attacked teachers for doing the job that they themselves had failed to do in disciplining their unruly children.

It declined even further when schools were required to get parental consent to administer sun lotion or an aspirin to a student; but could not inform parents when a student became pregnant and wanted to have an abortion.

Common Sense lost the will to live as the churches became businesses; and criminals received better treatment than their victims.

Common Sense took a beating when you couldn’t defend yourself from a burglar in your own home and the burglar could sue you for assault and a woman won a massive compensation pay-out after spilling hot coffee on her lap.

Common Sense was preceded in death, by his parents, Truth and Trust, by his wife, Discretion, by his daughter, Responsibility, and by his son, Reason. He is survived by his four stepbrothers – I Know My Rights, I Want It Now, Someone Else Is To Blame and I’m A Victim.

ADRIAN TAYLOR Thames Court Eynsham