William Brooks, as a British colonial writer, typically ignores the United States republic

 Re:  theepochtimes.com/opinion/a-new-years-reflection-on-the-common-sense-of-g-k-chesterton-5964761

Unfamiliar with his writing I wondered what brand of common sense G. K. Chesterton espoused: Protestant/Catholic/Deist-English, or ineluctable. In American usage, “ineluctable” means: together, not to be avoided, changed, or resisted. It seems the English-usage reserves the right to change.

I think Deist John Locke, in 1690, wrote against divine right of kings, “[Let a student] try, whether he can, with all his skill, make Sir Robert [Filmer, a Christian,] intelligible, and consistent with himself, or common sense.” In January 1776, Thomas Paine wrote, to support independence, “Some, perhaps, will say, that after we have made it up with Britain, she will protect us. Can we be so unwise as to mean, that she shall keep a navy in our harbors for that purpose? Common sense will tell us, that the power which hath endeavored to subdue us, is of all others, the most improper to defend us.” Their war-declaration implied that colonial legislators were equal to Parliament and every citizen equal to the king. Using “common sense”, President Trump might mean that his policies are comprehensible to most citizens. To me, it means civic integrity that improves civil and criminal law.

                After 1776, 13 colonies fought the war and won independence in 1783. Next, Shays rebellion motivated 12 free states to consider a Union in 1787. The 12 specified that civic citizens would manage both their local democracies and the United States republic. Since 1776, British loyalists, including some U.S. citizens, have been rivals to the United States republic. I think it impossible for a Brit, dead or alive, to discuss common sense with any civic American. By “civic” I mean citizens who defend each other’s opportunity to choose goodness and resist badness.

                William Brooks shares some ideas pointing to civic goodness. For example, common sense prefers goodness rather than badness. Rationalizing to ignore evidence is not wise. Hate, destruction, and violence do not improve civility. Civic people ought to manage their family, city, county, and state, using responsibility, initiative, and accountability. Bureaucrats pretend mysterious insights. Freedom constrains liberty, in order to choose goodness. Family supports obligation, love, independence, and loyalty, especially when a member fails. Patriotism is cohesive appreciation rather than national pride.

                I perceive 4 serious Brooks-falsehoods. First, common sense does not yield to tradition. That is why the United States Constitution provides for amendment. Second, improvements are not served by giving ancestors equal voice; collaboration, yes, equality, no. The republic serves “ourselves and our Posterity”. Quoting the preamble to the Constitution. Third, emotional/spiritual choices do not stand the test of time. Belief in God cannot compete with humility to whatever constrains the consequences of human choice. Natural law cannot overthrow the laws of physics and its progeny, such as psychology, mathematics, and economy. And fourth, England influenced the American Declaration of Independence only because of it persistent tyranny. When 12 independent states met to propose a Union, the consequence was the United States republic; England, indeed Europe was left behind by the civic faction of American citizens.

When President Trump, a master of humility, wit, and wisdom, leads celebration of America’s 250 anniversary since declaring war against England, loyalists everywhere may celebrate their opportunity to consider and try to mimic the United States Republic.

Copyright©2026 by Phillip R. Beaver. All rights reserved. Permission is hereby granted for the publication of all or portions of this paper as long as this complete copyright notice is included.

PRB highlights and comments on Brooks’ article

1.       Chesterton an adult during industrialization, totalitarianism, religious decline, and World War I: progress vs tradition.

a.       100 years later, confused about freedom, family, nationhood, truth, and kindness

                                                               i.      No: opportunity for responsibility

2.       Chesterton ideas:

a.       Common sense: moral realism and inherited wisdom

                                                               i.      No: ineluctable evidence and research

b.       Civilization: limits, humility, and gratitude

                                                               i.      No: appreciating opportunity

c.       Modern failures

                                                               i.      Poor judgement

                                                             ii.      Abstract reason ignores evidence

1.       Internal logic re justice, education, policy

2.       informed intuition accommodates emotionalism

                                                           iii.      Hate tradition

1.       Progressive independence

2.       Destroy statues, institutions, and norms

d.       Tradition

                                                               i.      “democracy of the dead”—giving ancestors a vote

                                                             ii.      Thus, liberation is undemocratic.

e.       Local policy instead of bureaucracy

                                                               i.      Families, schools, and communities

                                                             ii.      Facilitate responsibility, initiative, and freedom accountability

                                                           iii.      Resist unintended consequences or mysteries bureaucrats overlook

                                                           iv.      Responsibility and accountability instead of

1.       Freedom from constraint

2.       Liberty to choose goodness

                                                             v.      Family supports obligation, love, and independence; loyalty

1.       One member’s failure does not excuse the family

f.        Patriotism

                                                               i.      Appreciation rather than pride

                                                             ii.      Trust and commitment to the nation’s intentions (cohesion)

                                                           iii.      Comprehend the preamble and the Constitution’s amendability.

g.       Religion

                                                               i.      Belief in God is essential to . . .

1.       Something constrains the  consequences of human choice

                                                             ii.      Mercy, an emotion

                                                           iii.      Christian certainty in fallibility

1.       no substitute for humility

h.       Nature’s limits

                                                               i.      Human beings cannot perfect

                                                             ii.      Only improve

                                                           iii.      Hell on earth

i.         England influenced the American Declaration of Independence

                                                               i.      natural law, human dignity, and moral restraint

                                                             ii.      Common sense a virtue

1.       Humility, wit, and wisdom [President Trump]