Forget all the pre-election political- party posturing. One fundamental question to be posed to both sides by a financially stressed public is “How is it possible to reconcile massive defunding of domestic police with ongoing levels of federal foreign aid to an untold number of other countries?” Must we acknowledge an embedded culture of encouraging widespread foreign dependency on good old “Uncle Sam”?We can’t even assure that it buys friendly diplomatic relations.The recipients seem to have learned how to capitalize on capitalism. The strongest, most reassuring message America’s incoming administration could convey is to chart a clearly visible fiscal path toward an end-of-term balanced budget. That financial house-cleaning initiative can transcend party platform differences in terms readily understandable to a diverse electorate under daily stress to make ends meet. The change sought by both sides could be a common one – by catering first to our own citizenry as a single special interest. The genuine prospect of a balanced budget would moderate residual cost and price inflation, lower current interest rates on borrowing, and stabilize investment in visionary productive technology. Immigration disorder and other societal stresses should correspondingly recede.The evening news would be challenged to replace “us versus them” street-fight reporting with more hopeful and enlightening discussion of where we are headed together. Phil Osifer