Often have we heard the terms 'the common people', 'the man in the street',and 'people at the grassroots'. These terms are so commonly used nowadays that one is not exactly sure what the various speakers' mean in the different instances. What do these terms mean? Who is the common man?
Let us approach the issue from this standpoint: if there are 'common people',then there should be others who are not common. If we take this logic a little further,we can reason that 'uncommon people' are not found in the street,and are not 'in the grassroots'. This line of reasoning would be difficult to sustain because we all use the streets; even those who regularly travel by air do walk along the streets. And,of course,no one ever lives at the level of 'grassroots'.
The more rewarding approach is to consider the word 'common' as a term implying the generality of the people.
This line of approach would suggest that the common people are those of average 'social standing'. They are neither 'rich nor powerful', neither 'socially influential' nor 'social outcasts'. They do not make decisions that influence the society; rather,decisions are made for them by members of the ruling class. They are the employees or self-employed ones rather than the employers. They form by far the majority of the people.
Yet,they are a strong class. In any democracy,the ruling class takes them for granted at its own peril.
The combined voting power of the common people, in a true democracy,sweeps a party into power or out of it. The unfortunate thing is that the common people hardly ever realize the potential of their power and thus doze away complacently,forever kowtowing to those in authority.
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