Illustration by The New York Times. ... If common sense is background music for American politics, Thomas Paine’s 1776 pamphlet provides the title track.

Common Sense Media breaks down the top-rated films of the year for young kids, ... (Universal Pictures) By Common Sense Media. On-screen stories taught us a lot this year: ...

“Common Sense” was more than a rallying cry; it was Paine’s effort to forge an American identity rooted in a commitment to self-governance and trust in the power of the many — not the few.