How much does your government fear its people? The answer to this question has everything to do with how free those people will be in the future.
We find ourselves at a pivotal moment in history. The rise of central bank digital currencies and the technical feasibility of creating castes within society is alarming, to say the least. It's no longer a question of 'if,' but 'when' these realities will become more commonplace.
What's more troubling is the availability of tools for censorship, surveillance, and control. I've watched these instruments of power being honed in China, sharpened to a chilling efficacy, and now they're beginning to seep into other parts of the world, particularly in non-democratic nations.
It leads me to wonder: How much of our future freedom hinges on our collective willingness to stand against government overreach? In my mind, that's the critical question we need to answer.
However, I don't hold much hope for many countries. Without a developed civil society or a collective consciousness that's wary of the government, resistance is unlikely. Even if there's distrust, without a culture or tradition of resistance, there's little chance of success.
Yet, in the United States, I see a glimmer of hope. There's a deep-rooted tradition of resisting government overreach. It's commonplace, regardless of the political climate. From the Tea Party movement to BLM, from the Second Amendment defense movement to all the anti-digital surveillance movements, there's a fierce anti-authoritarian streak that runs through the population across the "political spectrum. That's why we see so many people questioning, even pushing back against, the government's potential plans for control.
Some label these voices as conspiracy theorists. But, in reality, this label is just another mechanism of control. It's a way to disarm the populace, to make them shy away from questioning for fear of being branded with a derogatory term. But the tide is turning. More and more Americans are recognizing this and refusing to be silenced.
The United States, in my view, is one of the few places where the government might genuinely feel some degree of fear or frustration when it comes to implementing control measures. In this nation, people's freedom isn't easily encroached upon.
So, when I think about the future of freedom, I find myself returning to that initial question: just how much does a government fear its people? The answer to that question, I believe, will determine the trajectory of liberty in any given country.