"How would you compare the personal and economic freedoms Americans have today with those envisioned by the Founding Fathers in 1776?"

"Q: As the US approaches its 250th anniversary, how would you compare the personal and economic freedoms Americans have today with those envisioned by the Founding Fathers in 1776?

"Doug Casey: The US has had a good, long run as a beacon of freedom for the entire world, but nothing lasts forever. ... The trend in the US is critically important. However, Western civilisation is in decline throughout the world. And it’s more than just a civilisational issue. There’s a rot in ethics [and] philosophy ... [a] trend ... underscored by the presumptive election of Zohran Mamdani as mayor of New York. He’s young, affable, charismatic. His appeal is understandable relative to the corrupt and constipated alternatives. But he’s also a Muslim communist who openly wants to overthrow what’s left of American traditions in the largest and most important city in the country. ...

"Q: What do you see as the most dangerous erosions of civil liberties in the US today—and how did we get here?

"Doug Casey: All things become corrupt and wind down over time. The Second Law of Thermodynamics affects political systems just as it does the physical world. Everything degrades and dissolves. Unfortunately, that includes the US Constitution. It’s been interpreted, amended, and disregarded into a dead letter.

"That’s particularly true of the Bill of Rights, which is the most important part of the Constitution. And the most important part of the Bill of Rights is freedom of speech. All the other freedoms rest upon it. Because if you have a thought and you can’t express it, you’re as good as a slave. You can work and pay taxes, but if you say the wrong thing, you’ll be punished. Best to restrict what you think and say to the weather, sports, and the condition of the roads. And be careful what you say about the weather…"

~ Doug Casey from his interview 'Doug Casey on the Erosion of Freedom in America Ahead of Its 250th Anniversary'