Includes bibliographical references and index.

America's most respected governor explains just how close we've come to losing the republic, and how we can restore it to greatness. Indiana Governor Mitch Daniels has brought more change to his state in a few years than most see in decades. He turned a $700 million deficit into a billion dollar surplus, and balanced Indiana's budget even during the recession--by focusing on government's core responsibilities and spending less money than his state takes in, while distinguishing between skepticism towards big government and hostility towards all government. Daniels shows how our underperforming public schools have produced a workforce unprepared to compete with those of other countries and ignorant of the requirements of citizenship in a free society. He lays out the risk of greatly diminished long term prosperity and the loss of our position of world leadership. However, real change can't be imposed from above--it has to come from a belief that Americans, properly informed of the facts, will pull together to make the necessary changes and that they are best equipped to make the decisions governing their own lives.--From publisher description.