The Idea of America led to independent sovereign States, then to a Constitution and a new Union. The results of this "American Experiment" were exceptional. Phase One, the first 120 years or so, marked a quantum leap in the standard of living and wealth, the result of a free people living under the Rule of Law. In Phase Two, since about 1900, America has diverged from its founding principles; today we find a country exceptional in many other ways, some of them not so positive. We are now entering Phase Three, and it is critical that more Americans are involved in the democratic process; that they identify their core beliefs; that they learn about our founding principles; and that they understand the politics and economics that are affecting our future as a nation. Throughout history great nations have risen and fallen; there is no guarantee that the American Experiment will survive. But it should. Liberty, the recognition of unalienable human Rights, and the Rule of Law are critically important. Freedom, however, is not free. This book started out as a series of letters and rants to my kids and grandkids, an attempt to help them learn about the issues facing us. It is for anyone who believes in the Idea of America and wants to participate in keeping the American Experiment alive.