When Allen Bloom ended his bestselling book The Closing of the American Mind, he predicted that our future is surely one of increasing decline.

 

In contrast, I am an optimist, and I believe that the best America and freedom have to offer the world is still ahead.

 

But it will depend less on Washington than on our regular citizens.

 

As a people, we will decide our future.

 

We will be led by those who put a priority on voracious reading, independent thinking, study of the  fine print, deep consideration of the great classics of mankind, and taking action as leaders to build communities and businesses.