Why the ‘Common Good’ Must Prevail on South Sepulveda

Mr. Sisa is a popular and stylish essayist for this newspaper primarily because he is a clear thinker. He lets us down this time, though, starting with his attack on the historically sound concept of the “common good.” Calling the common good “a morally incomplete idea,” without offering an illustration, leaves us dangling in the moral darkness. What, praytell, is the alternative to governing by the “common good”? To let every person take charge of separate, autonomous fiefdoms? Mr. Smith does not want a signal light at the corner of Jefferson and Sepulveda. Therefore, 10 accidents will happen each weekday. Is that acceptable? Or, say the owner of the nail salon, near Berryman, balks at selling when Mr. Champion makes an offer. Does the nail salon remain in place while the businesses surrounding it are torn down and rebuilt? Chaos appears to be the alternative to governing by the common good. There may be a rare exceptions to ruling by the common good, but none comes to mind. While Mr. Sisa is correct to aver that the principle has been abused throughout history — what principle hasn’t? — that is hardly a persuasive argument. The “common good” nevertheless has been the guiding concept in all known societies that treated their people properly.

The Sounds of Compassion

It is sweet of liberals to saw the strings of a violin when they see a victim of progress being driven to cover, possibly being forced out altogether. But consider the options. How committed are liberals to pushing, shoving, cajoling society into the next century? For heaven’s sake, liberals call themselves Progressives. That is an upper-case “p.” Is it being progressive to plant your feet on the site of a building that is part of a large redevelopment project and defy the onrushing bulldozers? My heart is in this project, too, Mr. Sisa. In one targeted block, I transact business every day. Four of my favorite business owners operate there. I am not sure this is the way City Hall would respond to Mr. Sisa. But the cultural and architectural personality of Culver City will be greatly enhanced when South Sepulveda is overhauled by Mr. Champion or someone else. More decisions than that will have to be enacted before Culver City can become the destination that some leaders envision. But tearing down 13 acres and rebuilding a glistening array of ground-floor businesses, with living and working quarters above, is an excellent start.