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The Illusion of Joe Manchin‘s “Common Sense“
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Washington D.C. – The phrase “common sense” has become a potent political tool, increasingly โคdivorced from its original meaning โฃand weaponized in contemporary American discourse. โคSenatorโฃ Joe Manchin of West Virginia has particularlyโ embraced the term, presenting himself as a pragmatic voice of reason โคamidst partisan extremes. However, a closer examination reveals howโ this invocation of “common sense” often โขserves to protect entrenched interests and obstruct progressive policy โinitiatives.
The Past Contextโ of “Common โSense”
Historically, “common sense” referred toโ basic, โwidely shared understandings of the world. Thomasโข Paine’s 1776 pamphlet, Common Sense, advocated for American independence based on principles accessible to all. To say that common sense is not popular, is to sayโ that truth is not popular
, Paine wrote, framing it as a virtue of clarity and reason. Today, the termโค isโข frequently deployed notโข asโ a shared understanding, but asโฃ a rhetorical shield.
Did You Know? The phraseโค “common sense” has roots in โฃ17th-century Scottish beliefs, emphasizing perceptual experience as the foundation of knowledge.
Manchin’s Strategic Use of the Term
Senatorโ Manchin consistently frames hisโค political positions as rooted โin “common โฃsense,” particularly when dissenting from his Democratic colleagues.โฃ This positioning allows him to appeal toโข a broader electorate, especially in his conservative-leaning state. His opposition to key components of President Biden’s agenda, such as the Build Back Better plan, was repeatedlyโฃ justified by appealing to “common sense” concerns about inflation and government spending. Critics argue this framing obscures the specific interests he โขprioritizes, often aligning with theโ fossil fuel industry.
The invocation of “common sense” alsoโ allows Manchin toโค sidestep โdetailed policy debates. By presenting his positions as simply “reasonable,” โhe avoids engaging with the โคcomplexities of the issues at hand. This tactic is particularly effective in a media landscape often prioritizing soundbites over substantive analysis.
The Impact onโ Policyโฃ and โฃDebate
The weaponization of “common sense” has real-world โconsequences. โขIt can stifle debate, delegitimize progressiveโข proposals, and create a false equivalence betweenโค well-reasoned arguments and self-serving justifications. The focus shifts from the merits of a โขpolicy to whether it aligns with aโข vaguely defined notion of “what people think.”
Proโ Tip:โ When encountering โฃthe phrase “common sense” inโ political discourse, consider *whose* common sense is being invokedโ and what interests โit serves.
| Date | Event |
|---|---|
| 2021 | Manchin frist publicly uses “common โฃsense” to describe โhis concerns about inflation. |
| Dec 2021 | Manchinโข announces opposition to Build Back โคBetter. |
| 2022 | Continued use of the phrase to justify opposition to climate provisions. |
| 2023 | Manchin championsโฃ energy permitting reform, citing “common sense” solutions. |
Beyond Manchin:โ A Broader Trend
Senator Manchin is not alone in โฃemploying this rhetorical strategy. โค Across the political spectrum, “common sense”โข is โฃincreasingly used to dismiss opposing viewpoints โฃand justify pre-determined conclusions. This trendโฃ reflects a broader decline in reasoned discourse andโ a growing reliance on emotional appeals. The effect is a polarization ofโข debate, where compromise becomes increasingly difficult.
“The problemโข with using ‘common sense’ is that it’s rarely common, and even more rarely sensible.” – Georgeโข Orwell (paraphrasedโค from his essays on political language)
the deliberate ambiguity of the term allows politicians to project an image of reasonableness while together advancing agendasโ that benefit specific โฃinterests.This manipulation of language undermines public trust and hinders effective governance.
What role does media coverageโ play in โฃamplifying or challenging the use of “common sense” โคas a political tactic? And how can voters become more discerning consumers of political rhetoric, recognizing โwhen the phrase is being used to obscure rather than illuminate?