Keeping the Republic

Upon leaving the Constitutional Convention, Benjamin Franklin was asked what sort of government the delegates had created. His reply to the crowd: "A republic, if you can keep it." Now America's "best governor" (Ross Douthat, The New York Times) explains just how close we've come to losing the republic and offers a plan to restore it to greatness.

Indiana Governor Mitch Daniels has brought more change to his state in a few years that most see in decades. He turned a $700 million deficit into a billion-dollar surplus, balanced Indiana's budget even during the recession, and converted its once unattractive business climate into one of the strongest for private sector job growth.

His book makes the case for focusing on the government's core responsibilities, empowering citizens, and spending less than we take in. He distinguishes between skepticism toward big government and hostility toward all government. And he shows how we can avoid losing America's longterm prosperity and our position of world leadership.