Commentary We hear a lot of criticism and concern about how anti-American ideas and socialist principles have entered the mainstream political conversation. These are merely symptoms of a deeper problem. Our citizens have lost connection with this nation’s founding principles—who we were before we became a nation, why we fought for independence, how our founding documents paved the way for righting wrongs, and what we need to do to maintain freedom and opportunity. The United States is a highly educated nation, although most are ignorant of our history and the principles that shaped our growth. American students went from ranking first in education to 30th in math, 8th in reading, and 11th in science, according to a recent report from the Program for International Student Assessment. In a way, many of our citizens are like those in Germany in the 1930s—well-schooled, but lacking true understanding. My Lack of Knowledge Like …