Election-year campaigning is full of talk about seductive federal programs appealing to certain targeted interest groups. This obvious pandering to buy votes includes over-the-top rhetoric and the assumption that an already problematic practice of unsustainable government spending supported by higher corporate and personal taxation and increased federal indebtedness can be continued. Outstanding borrowing stands at $34-trillion and is rising at an annual pace of nearly 10%. Can it be a surprise that interest rates have reached rare levels? This policy of fiscal madness has to stop. The cost burden inevitably results in penalizing the public it is supposed to be helping – in the form of a generally higher cost of living for everyone. Vote with your brain to tighten America’s belt. Phil Osifer