I&#x27;m not convinced a foil hat is necessary. The rise and fall of both nations and civilizations isn&#x27;t the exception. It&#x27;s the <i>rule.</i><p>Whether from pressures from within or without, states inevitably degrade or even collapse. One of the typical patterns of collapse for a democracy is regression to dictatorship. It&#x27;s not implausible.<p>Now, when looking at the nation as it is, rather than as it could be, I&#x27;m rather comforted. By all appearances the government continues to provide basic services, the military has unwavering loyalty to the civilian government, and the government is run by politicians chosen by popular election.<p>But government deficits are exploding, the sovereignties of the world are gobbling up private debt to prop up large financial firms, and the financial sector is so disconnected from the real economy that it has become one giant martingale that is due for a 25% downward correction.<p>What worries me most is that previously, there could be no permanent dictatorship. The United States has both the power and the infrastructure to become one. A few legal judgements here, a few electoral tweaks there, and our democracy becomes mere government theater, advertising that distracts us from the actual sovereigns and their interests.<p>I believe the current pattern of creeping statism from the left and steady erosion of Constitutional protections from the right are a lethal combination for a democracy.<p>There&#x27;s some paranoia here, sure. But I find that when dealing with political matters recently, a healthy dose of skepticism is warranted.