Last week, one of the Republican Party’s young stars, House Budget Committee Chairman Rep. Paul Ryan, R-Wis., spoke at the Heritage Foundation and gave forth his vision of America and what we need to do today to restore our vitality. Listening to Ryan, I’m reminded of the late, great Rep. Jack Kemp, R-N.Y., for whom he once worked. He talks about America as an “opportunity” society, driven by the ideals of individual freedom, limited government, traditional values, and free enterprise.

To sum up his working hypotheses: These are the values that made America great. Our economic machine is sputtering today as result of departure from these values. Today’s task is to restore them and get America growing again, which will benefit everyone.