This is the last in the brief series describing the political planks for the political party that I wished existed, that doesn’t. Yeah, three planks – family, economy, and foreign policy – isn’t much, but most other areas are going to have to walk the procedural gangway — or is it gangplank? — that I described in the Economy blog.

So what’s important about foreign policy? What are the first principles?

1. Defend the nation. It’s your job. No one else will do it for you. So figure out how to do it smarter, cheaper, with more applied creativity, fewer casualties, and greater success. That’s the American Way.
2. Don’t go it alone. You have friends in the world. Listen to them. Talk to them. Friends share information. Friends don’t let friends make stupid mistakes.
3. Don’t be naive. Violence isn’t going away. Bad guys are out there. It’s fine to trust people, but not because “it’s the right thing to do” — they have to earn it. Nor should you distrust entire populations. That’s a self-fulfilling prophecy if there ever was one.
4. Find a way to deal with immigrant workers — from overseas or from across the border. Balance the needs for national security and economic vitality. The status quo is not acceptable. Just ask the folks who live in Arizona or California.
5. Be smart about aid money. Aid money is not an entitlement to allegiance. Aid dollars are anonymous and remote, just like drones and cruise missiles. Best case: give aid to your friends. Money isn’t likely to make friends — at least not the right kind of friends. Just ask a Hollywood has-been.
6. Keep making progress in energy independence. Peace in the Middle East is a fine goal and it’s important that we stay engaged in the peace process. (See point #2) However, energy independence is under our control, and therefore more likely to be successful.

Thanks for reading. And may whomever we vote for, be the best ones we could have chosen, for whatever circumstances and issues they face.