This dangerous trend threatens the free exchange of ideas essential to democracy and to urgently needed policy solutions.
Science has become politicized in a wide range of issues, including public health and climate. Continued access to low-cost energy, a cornerstone of economic development and opportunity, is at risk.
Most recently, leaders have enacted draconian polices in response to the Covid-19 pandemic.
While certain actions may have been necessary, many have undermined civil liberties and led to policies which may be difficult to reverse.
In many cases, they have led to unsustainable, massive government programs which undermine the integrity of public finances. With the support of several powerful international organizations, there is a new status quo that centralizes authority at the expense of basic individual freedoms, including freedom of movement, speech, and health privacy that are fundamental to the personal autonomy we have taken for granted.
A tendency towards determined redistribution and socialization of the economy, supported by an agenda-driven media and educational system, has gained traction among younger people. While these ideas run counter to historical evidence, they have rapidly gained momentum, threatening economic, financial, and political freedom. External threats to freedom and democracy have also emerged with the rise of authoritarian economic powers.