It was said best recently by Fred Turner in his article that appeared at Tech Central Station. Fred noted that it's becoming "increasingly difficult to define the meanings of left and right, liberal and conservative."

Fred explained that, "Signs of realignment are everywhere. The Republicans are accused of creating Big Government, the Democratic Party of being anti-progressive and reactionary. Bill Gates and George Soros, the great capitalists, come out against inherited wealth. Polls of inner-city voters support school vouchers to send minority children to private schools. Bill Joy, the leading-edge technologist, warns in Luddite tones, oddly resembling the Unabomber's, against the dangers of human enslavement to machines. Bill Clinton, the liberal, leaves office with his major achievement being the abolition of welfare as we know it, under a cloud of scandal about his having been bribed by big business." Fred continues, "Democratic candidates are running on once-Republican platforms of fiscal restraint, protection of jobs from foreign competition, and the principle of leaving dictators alone; the Republican President proposes expensive prescription drug and space exploration plans, encourages legal guest workers, and sets out to make the world safe for democracy."

He mentioned that Virginia Postrel mapped the chasm, no longer with a left and right side. Instead, she argues that the edges are now defined by free thinkers on one side, and closed minds on the other.

That's where we come in.

CST poses the question: What ever happened to common sense?

When did it disappear? Was it in the dead of night, as we left a bag of unmarked ideas by the tracks, with hopes the power-brokers would return democracy unharmed? Are we to blame because governing just isn't "sexy" enough to compete with half-time shows?

As lofty as it seems: We'd like to help bring back some semblance of reason and intelligent discourse.

Common Sense Today will provide that facility by trying our damnedest to fact-check the news and showcase unsoured opinion and wit. We're just one of many who wish to germinate conversation to the art-form status it once held.

CST's News pages will make every attempt to inform and reveal the daily flow of stuff worth knowing.

Our Background section offers not only views from the edges, but varied links to analysis that might help foster forming thoughts from right-and-left corners...and all the common sense which lies in between.

Through our Deep Links section, we'll provide jump-off points to a few of the best-read blogs, news media and resources, we hope, will spark conversation among CST readers.

And for kilt- and skirt-wearers alike, if your cherished jewels are exposed, tell us through the 2 Cents tab. Our 2 Cents section is a moderated discussion of your observations. We like to think of it as "print-based" talk radio. In other words, you no longer need a Blog to blog.

The Suspects section are where the two of us lay bare the bad spin, lies and total idiots who try to fool us with junk that doesn't pass the "straight face" test: This is where we hope to punish the fools with the light of reason.

Fred was right when he wrote, "More interesting than taking one side or the other would be exploring how the debate itself might throw up excellent new ideas, solutions to old problems, and creative opportunities for cultural and political leadership."

We agree, Fred. You laid down the gauntlet when you penned, "...there are good arguments, and vulnerabilities, on both sides. Thoughtful people from both left and right might find a congenial place on either side of this conversation."

LIKE IT...INTERESTING NEWS AND STUFF!!


mike81859[/url]

Interesting and thought provoking theme/concept for the site.. like that.

I do not like the menu.. it seems detached from the site and does not seem to flow with it in color or theme. When browsing.. I kind of got lost looking for it even though I knew where it was. It also throws the centering off.. makes it look off.


Might also be beneficial to have a menu at the bottom so that when users are scrolling through your content.. they can easily get back home without scrolling back up.

The grey background on it makes me feel a little blah and seems dull. White to me always seems to brighten it and bring the focus onto the text instead of the gray.

The gap from the top also seems a little large and brings the focus of the site on the black instead of the center content.

Overall though.. I do like the site and concept:) It's kinda neat!