We Hoosiers hold to some quaint notions. Some might say we 'cling' to them, though not out of fear or ignorance. We believe in paying our bills. We have kept our state in the black throughout the recent unpleasantness, while cutting rather than raising taxes, by practicing an old tribal ritual - we spend less money than we take in.

Yes, we hired an out-of-state firm to run it, but it created 300 jobs in a hard-hit county and saved us $6 million a year we were paying to Kentucky to house our prisoners, ... I have no theological view about privatization, but I believe we should look at competition or contracting when looking at services the government should be providing. What is the most effective way?

If we don't believe in Americans, who will? I do believe. I've seen it in the people of our very typical corner of the nation.

We are tasked to rebuild not just a damaged economy, and a debt-ridden balance sheet, but to do so by drawing forth the best that is in our fellow citizens. If we would summon the best from Americans, we must assume the best about them. If we don't believe in Americans, who will?