Bermuda needs to move away from the political quicksand mode where almost every move seems to plunge us deeper into the abyss of confusion and doubt instead of making good use of common sense, on issues that impact the lives of every citizen.The Island is still seeking its footing after a general election, that left the Progressive Labour Party Government in a state of shock, when the electorate felt their blunders outweighed accomplishments over a 14 year period, and it was time for them to go.That certainly happens in most democratic jurisdictions around the world. In fact the PLP, now the Opposition, should have been acutely aware that they had chalked up a litany of highly questionable matters concerning the public purse that could not be swept under the carpet. Even some of their most ardent supporters reluctantly admitted that the PLP performance fell terribly short of convincing the electorate that they had the recipe for success.The One Bermuda Alliance, very new on the political scene, began to take root and with a combination of political veterans from the defunct United Bermuda Party and a number of new faces, the populace felt they should be given a chance help move Bermuda in a new direction.What many Bermudians were beginning to feel was that political aspirations were being placed above good old commonsense on matters that required sound judgment before proceeding. It is something I used to hear judges say to a jury often in court. When all is said a done you should also use commonsense before returning a verdict.The Grand Atlantic project on the south shore which is currently the subject of bitter political exchanges, seems to be a typical example of not putting commonsense ahead of political aspirations. Apart from the feasibility of any potential success, the location concerned even those with no expertise on the geological aspects that something was not right.Suggestions that the area could be a risk after centuries of pounding from various storms could not be easily dismissed as scare mongering. With climate changes that produce weather seldom seen around the globe, along with stronger hurricanes these days, one has to be concerned about any structure near a cliff edge.It is not a question of simply blasting away at the previous Government for launching this project, but certainly everyone has the democratic right to ponder whether proper thought had been fully explored before laying the first block. Hopefully something can be done to rectify a project costing millions of dollars that is yet to produce any returns.The new OBA Government has a formidable task ahead in tackling many serious issues and with an Opposition not yet fully recovered from being removed from power, there will be testing moments as emotions during heated debate tend to slip well below expected standards.Every Parliamentarian must be held accountable for what is said while conducting the business of the people. If commonsense is pushed aside with no regard for respectful standards, the people will begin to lose confidence in those charged with responsible leadership after being elected to serve as representatives of various constituencies.The problems facing Bermuda rise far above any political affiliation and the people are clamouring for a better approach to solving them. The clock cannot be turned back. The PLP is now the Opposition, and if they ever hope to be the Government again they will need to re-examine themselves very carefully. In this new age of communication little can be hidden from the public eye. Of course that also goes for the new OBA Government.Bermuda has a choice, allow bitterness and dissent to take centre stage at every turn or make better use of commonsense in how we deal with matters concerning the lives of every citizen on this Island. We need to quiet the political tempo, and allow commonsense to play a greater role.