I don't know when common sense disappeared but I do know it happened slowly over time. The "can do" attitude of events like Apollo 13 and WWII is gone. It feels like we are living off the accomplishments of older generations.

The number of laws in this country is staggering. I dare you to find the actual number but just the gun control laws total around 20,000. I can only imagine the number of laws and regulations dealing with the environment- the same laws that couldn't be suspended to allow Louisiana enough time to build the sand islands to protect their wetlands. And then there’s OSHA…

I think because of their overwhelming number, we've become so afraid to break laws that we don't even know about, in a lot cases it causes inaction. The bureaucracy is also afraid of the liability of not enforcing them. Their fear of what they call “unforeseen circumstances” prevents them from bending regulations when it’s obviously necessary.