The overarching threat to our whole society today is the exploding federal debt. The Holy Father, Pope Benedict, has charged that governments, communities, and individuals running up high debt levels are "living at the expense of future generations" and "living in untruth."

As I go around Southern Wisconsin and visit with Americans across the country explaining that our debt is on track to cripple the economy – and showing people charts and graphs to back it up – they often ask, is it too late to save America from a diminished future? Is the American Experiment over?

It's a difficult question. It's one that gives me pause. Frankly, it's one that keeps me up at night.

But the honest answer is the one I'm about to give to you: Nobody ever got rich betting against the United States of America, and I'm not about to start.