Respect for individual liberty, free markets, and limited constitutional government made America the greatest nation in history. But we have drifted far from our founding principles, and our country is in crisis.

Outsized growth in the federal government has replaced growth in the private sector, limiting opportunity for average Americans, while the Federal Reserve’s policies of keeping interest rates artificially low have the unintended consequence of creating winners and losers. Winners tend to be the politically connected, who get massive bailouts or receive federal subsidies.

The losers tend to be everyday Americans caught up in the hype of borrowing and spending beyond their means, the millions who are unemployed, and the families whose homes face foreclosure. Taxpayers are forced to pay for the results of bad policies.

The price tag for government expansion, which has occurred for many decades under the leadership of both political parties, now matches that of our entire Gross Domestic Product.

How serious is this? Consider that no happy or productive family, for example, could sustain a budget of spending every last dime it earns and borrowing 41 cents for every dollar it spends.

This is what is happening in Washington, and it is only getting worse. That’s why I have proposed an ambitious plan that slams on the brakes and puts America on a return to constitutional government. It is bold but achievable. Through the united voice of freedom-loving Americans, we can and will implement fundamental reforms.

My “Plan to Restore America”delivers a true balanced budget in year three of a Paul presidency.

I am the only candidate talking seriously about balancing the budget and presenting the public with a full plan to confront our nation’s challenges.