If you ever wonder how America dealt with her economic problems in the past, you can use this episode of Barney Miller as a clue. In the very last lines of the story, the detectives rejoice because their police precinct has gotten a loan from another state, which enables them to rehire and pay their full staff. Harris comments that this loan would hold them through the end of the week. Chano chimes in that he should not worry because they still have 48 more states to ask for loans. Then another detective mentions that federal government might loan NYC some money to make pay roll. In response, Fish make a prophetic point in asking "Which federal government?" Eureka! Fish's quip zeros in on one of the factors of the current economic crisis, foreign debt. In recent times, it is common knowledge that the US would never be able to make a budget without the help of loans from foreign countries. In this episode of Barney Miller, the idea of meeting a city's pay roll with foreign money, seems... funny. The US, and her states had cities, have had revenue problems for a least a generation. Should we really be surprised that our fathers' make-shift "solutions" have come back to haunt us. This episode illustrates the "sour grapes" that have set our "teeth on edge."