Our Commonwealth and indeed our country are suffering from a lack of  common sense.

Two hundred and fifty years ago this month, Thomas Paine released his 47-page pamphlet “Common Sense.” It was a sensation across the 13 colonies. In proportion to the population at the time it is the most widely circulated publication in American history.

His pamphlet was a clarion call for common purpose and bridging the  gap between social classes — a rallying cry for action. While its message focused on independence from the British, there is a powerful parallel to the challenges in today’s society. In the increasingly bitter and divisive political environment we are living through, there is a serious need for this wisdom. Paine’s message of common sense is as important today as it was in 1776.

Our Commonwealth is facing serious challenges that are putting our  future and the future of our children at risk. A recent Boston Globe poll showed that one in three residents is considering leaving Massachusetts because of the rising cost of living. People are struggling to provide for their families as grocery prices are sky high, medical, and utility costs continue to soar and there is a desperate shortage of affordable housing.

Massachusetts, which was once an engine of job growth and  opportunity, ranks 47th out of 50 states in creating jobs over the last five  years. This is despite the efforts of Governor Healey, who is working with the Legislature to find solutions. Young people are particularly hard hit, with 26 – 34 year-olds being the largest cohort leaving the Commonwealth.

Voters are demanding that government act, but all they see is politics  as usual. There is a growing disconnect between the common sense  solutions people are looking for in Massachusetts and what they perceive they are getting from state government.

All of this fuels voter frustration, especially when they see issues with overwhelming public support not being addressed by the Legislature. A referendum to audit the Legislature passed in 2024 with over 70% approval and the Legislature has not actively engaged with the State Auditor to implement the people’s will. Polling also shows an overwhelming number of voters want cell phone usage to be banned in schools. Yet, it appears that another school year will go by without the Legislature acting to protect our children.

The failure to act has led to government by special interest groups who are funding a record number of referenda to serve their interests — not  necessarily the long-term health of the Commonwealth. Our political system is increasingly driven by extremes from both political parties rewarding candidates and organizations who appeal to the far left and far right in low-turnout primaries.

The referendum ballot question of rent control is an important example of the imperative for a new approach. We have activists pushing a rent control ballot question that while well-intended, may actually limit new  affordable development, and we have real estate developers lining up on the other side to raise millions to defeat it. Instead of retreating to our respective corners, we need a way to bring developers together with activists to talk, listen, and find common ground.

We have the teachers union versus the business community on  education issues, the nurses versus the hospitals on health care, and the  Legislature versus the Auditor on bringing more transparency to state government. There is a record number of ballot questions that will be put before the voters in 2026. This is not the right way to govern, and it is ultimately a disservice to the voters who need real solutions now.

That’s why I’m proposing a new way forward — an organization that  brings business leaders, activists, and community groups together across the Commonwealth to listen, engage and build consensus on common sense solutions to the challenges facing our citizens and our businesses. We need  to empower our citizens to ensure their voice is being heard and to show them we understand the sense of urgency needed to address issues of affordable housing, rising energy costs, and the overall cost of living.

This is an example of the common sense that Thomas Paine wrote  about in 1776. We need to bring this thinking to the broad range of issues that affect voters’ lives so we can build a more prosperous future for all our citizens.

 Alan M. Leventhal is the chairman of Beacon Capital Properties and served as US ambassador to the Kingdom of Denmark from July 2022 to January 2025.