Last Friday night, I listened and watched the first presidential debate.

I listened to the first half in the car, then watched the rest when I arrived home.

I hope you were able to watch or listen as well because these are serious times.

At the conclusion, I wondered “will three debates be enough?”

Because these are, indeed, serious times, Americans need to hear much more from all current incumbents, and candidates for all federal offices, about what needs to be done immediately and strategically to strengthen our free market economy, significantly increase domestic oil drilling, dramatically cut government program spending, reform government operations and shut-down congressional giveaways.

Serious times require straight talk.

Serious times call for those individuals who will speak clearly and put their country and their fellow citizens ahead of themselves and the power they will be granted, if elected, at inauguration.

And, we need more than talk. Serious times require openness about what went wrong in the various economic arenas and markets. When did the early indicators begin to show? Who failed to fulfill their responsibilities to their company and to the stockholders? Who failed to fulfill oversight responsibilities in their roles as private industry entities, public agencies or boards?

Serious times require transparency.

The complete text of all documents and agreements between and among the government, the Federal Reserve and each company, organization, etc. that went bankrupt or was absorbed, sold, merged, assimilated, etc. must be made available online for review. It shouldn’t take more than 24 hours to copy and post all documents to a single Web site. The Secretary of the Treasury and the Fed Chairman should certify by their signature a statement that all documents for each entity are posted and any new additional documents will be added to the Web site within 24 hours.

Serious times require evidence.

Responsible American voters must be able to find evidence in each candidate’s record that will realistically assure them that what a candidate or their campaign and supporters may claim, such as their approach to governing, their leadership style and problem management abilities, is indeed fact-based and not political hype.

Serious times require complete solutions.

Complete solutions are just that. Solutions that resolve all aspects of a problem in the tactical timeframe and, include appropriate calibrations along the strategic timeline to preclude reoccurrence are effective and complete solutions.

Serious times require courage.

Americans have successfully met challenges throughout our country’s history. In each of those instances, it was never easy. Sacrifices were made and hardships endured. When Americans “rallied round the flag,” the cohesive coming-together helped each individual find the personal courage and the stamina to do what they knew had to be done.

Serious times require faith.

Faith in oneself is essential at all times. When imbued with freedom, every individual has the opportunity to energize their faith in pursuit of their personal goals and dreams. When an individual adds faith in our country, our free market system and faith in God, there truly are no limits on that individual American’s opportunity.

The problems facing the United States can be solved.

Most Americans understand that a president cannot solve the problems alone. That’s why growing numbers want a president who will reform the way government has operated. They will rally round the person who has the courage to speak clearly, tell the facts as they are uncovered and disclose the terms of deals already done.

For many Americans, deciding who bests fits that profile may come down to answering one fundamental question, “Which candidate has faith in America?”

Richard Olivastro is president of Olivastro Communications. He can be reached at Rich@Olivastro.net or 877-RichSpeaks.