I get a severe headache when I listen to a State of the Union speech. But then I feel great abdominal pain when I have to endure the rebuttal from the party out of power. What is the bottom line?

Where are we going to reduce government spending, and what are the time lines and maps for how long it will take? If our politicians have real solutions, there must be "real" numbers and logistics associated with their "reality."

Our worst problem is that our politicians are wordsmiths and not financial or business experts. And those who have the talent are imprisoned by party loyalty.

For God's sake, I have a calculator and a spreadsheet. Publish the real numbers, and let me and my fellow voters make our own decisions.

Mr. President and loyal leaders: We don't need a pep talk, we need numbers and workable solutions.

John Holter, Baltimore