There’s been a lot of talk lately about a return to “common sense.” That’s a reassuring phrase considering the last four years of drift, destructive policies, and a void in national leadership. Common sense appeals as a place with sturdy norms, proven practices, and familiar guidelines. With 250 years of U.S. history to soon celebrate, there will certainly be plenty of discussion about the relatively long journey we’ve all taken to reach this apparent welcome place called “common sense.”
Remarkably, many historians note this journey in U.S. history was launched by a pamphlet titled “Common Sense” by Thomas Paine published in January 1776. There is every reason to suspect that Thomas Jefferson had his copy of this pamphlet open on his desktop when he first sat to write the Declaration of Independence in Philadelphia in February 1776. This short 47-page publication had captured some of the seminal thoughts behind the Revolution and much of the emotion boiling in the streets across the colonies. It had gone viral in a 1776 way and ultimately reached 500,000 readers who were anxious but certain that change had to come in the embittered relationship between the English crown and the restive colonies. The loyalist “party” had gone toxic in a 2025 way.
In his pamphlet, this recent immigrant to America delivered a straightforward indictment of English Royal rule matched with an equally elegant argument that Americans had a historically unique opportunity to establish a new democratic republic in which people were free and had the power to rule themselves. Paine declared, “We have it in our power to begin the world over again.” He promoted American exceptionalism, independence, and a new form of government, as a “necessary evil,” whose purpose was to serve the people. He rejected a dishonest ruling class bent on “impoverishing the nation” and intent on making war. He championed America as the home of the free, capable with the raw materials, talents, and willpower to defend themselves.
Thomas Jefferson considered Paine to be the best writer of the Revolution who, unlike the landed gentry gathered in Philadelphia, could draw from his humble background to find the voice of the people. Paine’s compelling logic and clarion voice made it difficult for colonial leaders to take half-way stands in the politics of revolution. John Adams wrote to his wife in April 1776: “Common Sense, like a ray of revelation, has come in seasonably to clear our doubts, and to fix our choice.”
What was once common sense in a new nation – fiery but honest debate, fiscal sanity, strong defense, a constitutional republic, strong communities, protections of family, faith, and freedoms – has today too often fallen prey to one party piracy, identity and other destructive politics, injustice for hire, open borders, and indoctrination instead of education.
A reset is needed now more than a revolution. True leadership needs to be prompted and supported by creative energy and ideas. Could it again be that a recently arrived and iconoclastic immigrant like Thomas Paine, an outsider unafraid of rejection or argument, and a national leader, emboldened by a national mandate, join to ring the bell of America and say enough? Enough spending out of control, enough elimination of industry, enough accepting limitations on the creative energy of America, and enough of barriers created by “the way it’s always been done.”
Common sense is a learned sense built on experience, education, and the pushing of limits. What someone calls common sense varies person to person, generation to generation. But biology, physics, laws, morals, and more do set the limits of how a person, a community, a nation handle challenges, solve problems, and set reasonable goals. A reset acknowledges such realities, but in the name of American exceptionalism this nation expects an expansive and fulfilling future for all our citizens. Not easy to do, but it does seem we’re finally embarked on a very promising path going forward.
The collective voice and vote of Veterans must be heard in this national reset. We will certainly be involved in the work ahead. Veterans remain leaders with hard earned common sense. Our group, American Veterans Vote, benefits from the wise counsel of Veterans and their productive engagement as it promotes change through the ballot box for Veterans, Veteran Supporters, and their families.
Veterans Forward!
Vote, Volunteer, Lead!
Every Veteran, Every Vote!
Bob Wood
Lieutenant General (Retired), U.S. Army
CEO, American Veterans Vote
by
Michael B. “Yama” Hoyes
COL (R), USAF
The Apostle Paul’s ministry spanned about 30 years, similar to what we see today for military retirement (and he had plenty of permanent /temporary changes of station during that time period). A key difference between Paul and us is that Paul’s ministry would end with his likely martyrdom…our association with Veterans as well as our zeal for our nation will hopefully last much longer!
Paul was able to pen the following words to his protégé, Timothy:
Preach the word; be prepared in season and out of season; correct, rebuke and encourage—with great patience and careful instruction. For the time will come when people will not put up with sound doctrine. Instead, to suit their own desires, they will gather around them a great number of teachers to say what their itching ears want to hear. They will turn their ears away from the truth and turn aside to myths. But you, keep your head in all situations, endure hardship, do the work of an evangelist, discharge all the duties of your ministry. For I am already being poured out like a drink offering, and the time for my departure is near. I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith. [2 Tim4:2-7]
These words remind me of what we face as members of American Veterans Vote and simply as Veterans and those who support Veterans…we should be prepared in and out of election cycles to encourage with great patience. We should realize that there will be people who will not put up with sound doctrine, who surround themselves with people who will say what their itching ears want to hear. These people will sadly turn to myths and not truths. However, we are reminded that we should be steadfast, fighting the “good fight,” “finishing the race,” and “keeping the faith.”
EVERY VETERAN…EVERY VOTE
By
Frank Wickersham, USMC (Retired)
The attached article at link below is for your general interest regarding the fast approaching off-year elections in Virginia. As noted in this news item, Virginia Democrats are seeking out military Veterans to run for offices currently held by Republicans.
At stake in the upcoming elections are the positions for Governor, Lt Governor, Attorney General and the entire House of Delegates. For Virginia, the importance of these elections could not be greater!
Background– during the period from 1900 to 1998 Virginia was noted to be a strong Conservative State. The Southern Conservative Democrat wing of this party held sway for nearly 100 years! In 1998 the Northern Wing of the now Liberal Democratic Party began its historical “third onslaught” into the Conservative Southern States. Conservative Americans fled to the Republican Party to save America’s ideals and values.
The announced and apparent goal of the now unrecognizable Democrat Party was to shift Virginia to a “Reliably Blue” Liberal Democrat state!
During the period 1998- 2025, the battle was waged. Over two years (1998- 2000) Virginia Conservative Republicans lost control of the Virginia House of Delegates by ONE seat! The Liberal Democrats began a sea change of new rules and political actions reordering how Virginia would vote, redistrict, and think!
The Conservative Republican Party of Virginia fought back. From 2020 – 2025 control of Virginia’s House of Delegates has been the Grand Prize! Control of the House of Delegates has swung back and forth by generally the slightest of margins. That said, the Liberal Democrat Party has been more successful in making Virginia– the Old Commonwealth– vote Liberal Democrat in ALL Presidential Elections since 2008!
Why and How are the questions!
Have Virginians truly shifted away from their traditional conservative American roots? Or perhaps they have wearied and are succumbing to the Third Liberal Northern invasion?
Virginia is once again a ” battle ground” state. Voters in the Commonwealth are now being called upon to decide Virginia’s future!
There is no time to languish in the shadow of a false fate! Every vote counts. ALL must vote their values. Every Veteran, Every Vote
Tuesday, November 4, 2025, will tell the tale!
Read, think, and vote wisely.
American Veterans Vote, Inc. (AVV) is a volunteer team of Veterans and Veteran supporters. We are a 527 Political Action Committee with a nationally-focused mission to promote the political power of Veterans and Veteran supporters in support of our three strategic goals:
AVV’s goal is to help Veterans maximize their political voice by supporting Veterans’ ability to Vote, Volunteer and Lead.
“Every Veteran, Every Vote.”
We don’t speak FOR Veterans… we speak AS Veterans.
PAID FOR BY AMERICAN VETERANS VOTE
Join AVV. Get Involved. Plus, you get access to all Member Content as well as a Subscription to our Newsletter! To do both at the same time, CLICK HERE.
