Voltaire’s purported remark about “common sense” not being so “common” has no greater application than modern Democrats and their philosophies.
18th-century French philosopher Voltaire is to have once remarked, “Common sense is not so common” when assessing the lack of logic and basic reasoning prevalent in France during the Age of Enlightenment. He certainly had a knack for distilling his views of humanity in that era. The dominant questions confronting society in that time were markedly different than those which the U.S. currently faces, but his stark observation can still be applied to a distinct segment of American society today.
The particular U.S. factions who support the “woke” and similar philosophies may hold that their beliefs are well-grounded in solid reasoning. But many policies based on good intentions, which fit neatly onto bumper-stickers, have resulted in disaster as they were not fully examined for negative ramifications. Recent developments are illustrative.
Now, various appeals in support of benevolent sounding policies abound: who amongst you would not extend a helping hand to those escaping a foreign government’s oppression? Shouldn’t we as a society offer second chances to those who, for good reasons, violate our border, criminal theft, and voting laws? How can Americans be so heartless to restrict people’s actions when feeling estranged from their biological genders? And who can argue that a truly just society is not based on kindness?
When policy advocates concocted such grievances, ladled out ill-conceived public programs, and dumped them on a trusting society, they rained great misfortune on U.S. culture and taxpayers. The outcomes of what were sold as well-meaning policies mutated into a mishmash of madnesses and pure folly.
One of the most recent egregious examples cited, according to the General Accounting Office, occurred in FY 2025. Rampant fraud discovered in the Medicaid and Medicare programs in Minnesota, Ohio, California, and Maine has resulted in $186 billion (thus far) spent on “improper payments stolen from taxpayers.” In Minnesota, more than 90% of those indicted for massive swindles in the “Feeding Our Future” food program, housing stabilization, and specialized Medicaid programs were centered in the Somali community. Testimony revealed that Minnesota Governor Tim Walz and Attorney General Keith Ellison were put on notice of fraud in 2020, but funds kept flowing as their oversight responsibilities were ignored. In another instance, in Van Nuys, California, investigators found that a three-story dilapidated building, which was supposed to house 50 hospices and 97 home health companies, did not; the building even lacked a constructed wheel chair ramp for incoming patients. Even more proof of fraud was uncovered in a government report finding that six million ineligible people were enrolled in “Obamacare” in 2026; these illegal subsidies cost taxpayers upwards of $25 billion.
In all of these cases, elected officials were unwilling to enforce laws which prohibited “paying someone who was ineligible for federal assistance.” To be clear, these amounts were not minor rounding errors but the result of governing authorities who ignored established laws, their responsibilities and, in many instances, gained political support from recipients for their largesse. Treasury Secretary Bessent estimated that if all 50 states are audited for these brazen thefts and such schemes are eliminated, the U.S. could balance its budget. In 2025, the federal deficit added up to $1.8 trillion in overspending.
Another issue tearing at the fabric of the U.S. culture is the policy that boys, if they identify as female, should not only be allowed to participate in girls’ sports but have access to women’s locker rooms. This is seen as insanity by the vast majority of America. The adoption of this policy by the Fairfax County (VA) School Board was that youngsters can identify as another gender despite not having reached the Age of Reason. Thus, their choices must be respected. The Board completely ignored the rights to privacy for girls/females under Virginia Code § 18.2-386.1 “prohibiting…observing another person without consent for sexual gratification or to arouse or satisfy sexual desires when the person is in a place where they have a reasonable expectation of privacy (e.g., locker rooms, bathrooms, changing rooms)”. In Fairfax County, rapes and assaults have been the result of governing entities closing their eyes to established laws and the XX/XY chromosome differences.
In 2025, a California proposal penalized parents who did not affirm a child’s trans identity. But state law maintains until age 18, a child is not capable of understanding the effect of their reasoning and conduct. So, for lawmakers and parents to subject a child to either life-altering surgery or ruinous psychological damage because of their youngster’s immature feelings is despicable and malfeasance. A natural outgrowth of that theory would be if a second grader came home from school to announce she was now a giraffe, California law and parents would be forced to send that child off to the Serengeti for fear of prosecution.
More warped governing sensibilities have emerged in the form of lax treatment for indicted felons. Cashless bail is now granted in some metropolitan areas for those arrested for certain felonies…felonies! And the accused are then deposited back on the streets where they often repeat the same crime, sometimes in the same day. This is ludicrous. Illinois became the first state to entirely abolish cash bail under the so-called Pretrial Fairness Act. Defendants charged with particular felonies are released on cashless bail with specific, harsh conditions to include “checking-in.” Also, in 30 states, theft below $1,000 is now prosecuted as a misdemeanor; thieves often receive community service as “punishment.” Looters everywhere have rejoiced. Retail merchants, not so much. Mores are evaporating right in front of our eyes.
And of course one cannot overlook the travesty of not requiring a government-issued ID to vote in U.S. elections. On a secular basis, is there anything more sacred than guaranteeing the integrity of the American electoral process? There is no plausible reason to ignore adjudicated cases of non-citizen voting in recent elections. Oddly enough, the no ID requirement occurs almost uniformly in Democrat-run states. In light of the facts that two government-issued IDs were required to shovel snow in New York City last winter, and one was even necessary to enter the 2024 Democrat National Convention, it strikes many as rank hypocrisy to turn a blind eye to something so vital to this country. Everyone is aware of ID requirements to open bank accounts, receive welfare, buy alcohol, and receive driver’s licenses, but there is no necessity to ensure the integrity of elections?
The motives in this particular instance are quite clear. The borders were flung wide open under President Biden, illegals flooded the country, and in many states and municipalities authorities gave illegals with no citizenship verifications permission to enter our voting booths. This was a blatant effort to cement political power for those who facilitated unlawful access to the country. Senator Rand Paul summed up: “Democrats have once again shown they do not want elections to remain free, fair, and decided by Americans.”
Odious, narcissistic politicians routinely divert attention from all of these disastrous outcomes and attempt to refocus arguments only on perceived injustices. Recall that Obama’s Rahm Emanuel, who is weighing a presidential bid in 2028, infamously said “Never let a crisis go to waste.”
If officials who continue to promote these philosophies have their way, America will no longer be a nation of laws but a country where political expediency is the rule. If we do not stop the assault on and corrosion of our principles, we will no longer have a durable republic. Maybe we should rename AI “Voltaire,” and task it to do the job that contemptuous, woke politicians will not.
Marc E. Zimmerman was a Legislative Assistant to a Member of the U.S. Congress
American Thinker
THE ARTFUL DILETTANTE 