I’ve just returned from a two-week road trip across America with my kids—a journey that rekindled my deep love for this country… and also stirred a quiet ache I couldn’t ignore.
We didn’t stick to the usual tourist spots. Sure, we saw the Statue of Liberty and wandered through New York and Boston.
But we also went deep into the heartland—driving across South Dakota, visiting the cowboy town of Cody, WY, camping under the stars in Yellowstone, standing beneath Mount Rushmore, watching small-town rodeos, and even learning to shoot guns.
It was beautiful. Awe-inspiring. A window into the raw soul of this nation.
One morning, I was about to post a photo of my kids and me standing under the American flag—captioned “The Land of the Free.”
But my thumb hovered. Because something inside me whispered, That’s not entirely true anymore.
And that’s what today’s email is about.
It’s about freedom—what it really means, why it’s vanishing, and why we should all be concerned. Not just Americans, but all of us.
Where does America actually rank in freedom?
I was shocked to learn that America no longer ranks in the top 10 freest countries in the world.
In fact, not even the top 15.
According to the 2024 Human Freedom Index, America ranks #17—and it’s still falling.
Recent events, growing surveillance, media consolidation, and the erosion of civil rights are accelerating the decline.
Many experts now warn: the U.S. is on the brink of autocracy.
Why do Northern European and select Asian countries consistently outrank America in freedom?
Because they have:
- Strong protections for civil liberties
- Public education systems that teach critical thinking
- Universal healthcare that actually works
- Transparent governance
- Independent media (not owned by six conglomerates)
- Smart regulation that keeps corporate influence in check
Meanwhile, America continues to erode its democratic foundations.
Let’s break it down—with four global indexes that reveal the full picture.
#1: Human Freedom Index
Measured by the Cato Institute and Fraser Institute.
This combines personal freedom (speech, religion, and movement) with economic freedom (property rights and regulatory fairness).
Top countries: Switzerland, New Zealand, Finland, Denmark, Estonia
America? Ranked #17—tied with the UK.
Why?
Because of increasing political polarization, declining rule of law, and growing restrictions on bodily autonomy and protest rights.
#2: Press Freedom Index
Measured by Reporters Without Borders.
Evaluates media independence, transparency, and journalist safety.
Top countries: Norway, Denmark, Sweden, Finland, Netherlands
America? Ranked #57.
Why?
Because six corporations own 90% of U.S. media.
Because cable networks profit from division.
Because journalists are threatened and discredited.
Because truth is no longer profitable.
#3: Democracy Index
Published by The Economist Intelligence Unit.
Measures the electoral process, civil liberties, political culture, and government function.
Top countries: Norway, New Zealand, Iceland, Sweden, Switzerland
America? Labeled a “flawed ”democracy”—currently around #28.
The country that once exported democracy… now struggles to protect its own.
#4 Internet Freedom
Measured by Freedom House.
Assesses censorship, surveillance, and digital expression.
Top countries: Iceland, Estonia, Canada
America? Not even in the top 10—and declining.
Why?
Policies like requiring visa applicants to hand over social media accounts are undermining digital privacy — and global trust in U.S. tech.
Each index tells the same story:
America is falling behind.
So what does this tell us?
The idea that America is the freest nation on Earth does not hold up against the four global freedom indices.
It’s a myth—one we must lovingly but urgently dismantle if we are to build something better.
What real freedom actually looks like
Real freedom isn’t fireworks and an anthem.
It’s not red, white, and blue—it’s truth, agency, and dignity.
Here’s what real freedom looks like in a modern, awakened society:
Real freedom means…
Freedom from fear
You can walk down the street without fearing bullets, badges, or bills.
Freedom to learn truthfully
Your education isn’t censored by political agendas or banned books.
Freedom to heal
You can access affordable, evidence-based healthcare—without bankrupting your family.
Freedom to vote—and have it count
Your voice isn’t silenced by gerrymandering, voter suppression, or money in politics.
Freedom of thought
Algorithms don’t control your beliefs. You think for yourself—not how the algorithm trained you to.
Freedom to be who you are
Regardless of your race, gender, sexuality, faith, or background—you’re treated with dignity, not suspicion.
Freedom online
The internet is a tool for empowerment, not surveillance, manipulation, or corporate censorship.
Freedom to roam
You can travel, work, and live across borders without bureaucratic chains—as a citizen of the Earth.
Freedom to rise—together
Economic mobility is real. Success isn’t reserved for the zip code you were born into.
Freedom from war
You don’t have to fund invasions while schools crumble and families go hungry.
That’s what freedom looks like.
Not something you claim.
Something you create.
But here’s what Americans still aren’t free from…
Freedom from poisoned food
Michelle Obama planted vegetables. Conservatives shouted, “You’re taking away our freedom!”
Now RFK Jr. echoes the same message—and it’s patriotic.
The hypocrisy is wild.
But at least now both sides agree: America’s food system is broken.
Americans now die five years younger than their European counterparts.
Freedom from gun terror
You want a handgun? Fine. A hunting rifle? Cool.
But why the hell are AR-15s on the streets?
Kids are doing active shooter drills in kindergarten.
That’s not freedom. That’s national PTSD.
Freedom from mass incarceration
America is 4% of the world’s population, but holds 20% of the world’s prisoners.
Over 1% of Americans are behind bars.
Private prisons profit. Minorities suffer.
Land of the free… unless you’re poor, Black, or unlucky.
Freedom for your vote to actually count
Wyoming: 580,000 people. California: 39 million.
Same number of senators. That’s not democracy—that’s dilution.
And Puerto Rico?
3 million American citizens.
No vote in Congress. No vote for president.
How? Puerto Ricans are American citizens. They just don’t get to vote.
Make it make sense.
So what if we flipped the script?
Young Americans chant: Free Gaza. Free Palestine. Free Cuba. Free Iran.
But what if we said: Free America.
- Free America from propaganda disguised as news.
- Free America from the grip of Rupert Murdoch.
- Free America from billionaires who can buy elections.
- Free America from a system where corporations are people, but people are disposable.
- Free America from mass shootings—and the 25+ million assault rifles still circulating.
- Free America from the impact of foreign lobbies, like the Israel lobby, which spends over $100 million/year influencing U.S. politicians.
- Free America from racism disguised as patriotism.
- Free America from cruel policies that tear undocumented families apart.
But mostly…
Free America from the illusion of freedom.
Because here’s the truth:
When America is free… Gaza will be free. So will the world.
When America sneezes, the world catches a cold. And we, the rest of the world, are sick of suffering the consequences.
This isn’t about red vs. blue
It’s about truth vs. illusion.
It’s about reclaiming what “freedom” really means—beyond slogans, beyond partisanship, beyond the BS.
And it starts with us—speaking up, seeing clearly, and refusing to settle for myth over meaning.
In love, the American spirit of rebellion, and deep respect for what this amazing country could still become,
— Vishen
I’d love to hear your thoughts. Leave a comment below—tell me what freedom means to you, what you’re standing for, or what this stirred in you.
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294 Responses
Incredibly well written and thought out and I could totally dive deeper into each topic.
I am glad you toured a bit of rural America. Every city I have lived in has had the most incredible people. It is the communities that come together in times of crisis, neighbors helping neighbors. We are still sleeping in our guest bedroom three years after hurricane Ian. We have full insurance but insurance companies do not pay nor does Fema. We have endured two hurricanes since but we live in such a fantastic community with the best neighbors and that far outweighs what some might consider a “perfect” home. It is perfect for us!
What I really want to focus on though is your thoughts on American food.
My fiance was diagnosed with a form of autoimmune disease in 2020. He would have bouts of extreme fevers and then his body would be ice cold. Sometimes he couldn’t get out of bed for weeks. I have always been a believer in herbs and with what we thought was proper nutrition and supplements the attacks became fewer but they still came. He gave up cola’s and found some great alternatives. We stopped buying any bread and cereal with folic acid in it, we are fortunate to have a European market across the street that bakes bread daily. I stopped drinking California wines (my favorite) and only drink European wines now. We shop at our local farmers market for vegetables and food to table farms for our meat. Don’t even get us started on food colorings! We are foodies and this has been an interesting five year journey! I will turn 60 next month and I have never felt better and I am over the moon excited that my fiance has not been sick in over a year! Shame on America food companies.
What an excellent message, Vishen.
Well written, Powerful, honest, and deeply needed. Thank you for speaking truth with such clarity and courage. You remind us that freedom isn’t a flag — it’s agency, dignity, and the courage to question what we’ve accepted for too long.
By the way, my son Yousuf says hello — he met you at Stanford with your son and was so pleased. And of course, I’ve been a fan of your work for years. Keep inspiring.
With respect,
Ibrahim
This is brave and truthful. And this core values are something to reclaim in all democracies to keep them alive, also in Europe. Thanks for the post.
Seriously, it doesn’t make sense for a convicted felon to run for political office, let alone the presidency. Every country except USA has universal healthcare. I am now in my 70s, and I am really angry that our government has no desire to represent the citizens of this country. We are not who we claim to be. Not even close.
Thank God! One American speaking who can face at least part of the truth about the current state of your own country with (apparently) some the strength & maturity required.
Without crying “Lefty” (so what) and “unpatriotic” (it isn’t NECESSARILY.)
Vishen, your words struck me to the core. I’m a 58 year old woman who has always thought America was the best country in the world. But slowly I think we’ve let complacency get the best of us. A growth mindset doesn’t let us rest on our laurels. I fully stand with you in demanding that we reclaim our freedoms that were so hardly fought for. Thank you for speaking truth to power!
Couldn’t agree more, Vishen. We live in the most beautiful country in the world. We’re blessed to have nearly every resource available to us at all times. But “Freedom” has become more illusion than truth in the USA. Freedom to me, means being able to do whatever I want, whenever I want, and however I want, with no limits or rules (brules) imposed. That’s a broad definition, and of course I mean doing what I love to do, while respecting the freedom and sovereignty of others. But when it’s applied to the examples in your blog, it becomes instantly clear that freedom in this country comes with a multitude of limitations, which isn’t freedom at all.
Truth stands on its own merit. Only illusion requires defending, which is why I suppose we have the largest military in the world. Gotta defend our “freedom.” As with everything in life, the “threat” isn’t on the outside, it’s from within.
Great to “meet up” with you at Sylvan Lake in Yellowstone of all places! An unlikely encounter, but grateful for the few moments Nancy & I had to share with you. 🙂
As a natural-born American citizen of Polish, Italian, and German descent, I remember the last time I felt proud of my country. It was in the wake of the 9/11 attacks. That’s the last time I remember feeling like we as a nation pulled together. After that, I remember feeling joy and relief when Obama was elected – that a black man could be our president was an important milestone. As time has marched on, the dichotomy has grown, and Trump has become a magnet for everything divisive and fearful in our country (and now the world). He is truly one of the only people that I have struggled to find my center on. He is the ultimate “stress test” of the American government system. Watching Kamala lose this election was understanding that America was choosing a criminal mobster over a woman of color, and that is disheartening. The breaking point is coming – it has to. The techtonic plates of our society are increasing in pressure. It’s only a matter of time, and what we each pay attention to and have interest in will determine where it all lands. I have faith that a greater good will emerge, but it is going to be a transition that leaves many behind.
Really? You sound like a nice person.
But one who believes what they watch on TV.
Just about everything you mentioned above – to my mind – is just window dressing – pure & simple.
America “pulling together over 9/11” for example.
There is so much wrong with that statement I would be struggling to know where to start.
More like a carefully orchestrated attack designed to leverage yet more oil.
Yeah. Sorry. I know!
God Bless(es) America!
Apparently, God must really hate the rest of the ungrateful world.
Aha. Maybe THAT’S the real problem.
Thank you for your important message!
Wow, what a well thought out and poignant commentary on America. You should run for office!
Your post is spot on… You’re seeing things and making the connections… America only has the “illusion of freedom” and you named all the things that we think are free but are not. So here’s the question that stirred inside of me – How do we create real freedom for ourselves? How do we beat the system?
At last! And what a GREAT and timely question!
Barring a blood soaked revolution – which will probably never happen in America – the so called solutions will be probably personal as the governments around the world can pretty much call the shots. Pun intended, if seen.
I mean with just 1 signing of an Presidential Executive Order, your whole nation could be forced into Martial Law, as just 1 example…with FEMA camps being used as concentration camps for “undesirables.”
But don’t worry.
It’s all for your protection…lol.
I love your thorough and fact-based blog posts. It’s been a long time since I’ve read something you’ve written that I didn’t agree with.
We all have a responsibility to speak up and raise awareness about the genocide which most of us are indirectly funding. Mindvalley members and those that share an interest with Mindvalley’s mission are compassionate people – this should extend around the world. What is happening in Gaza is undeniably an ethnic cleansing and a violation of human rights. I am glad that this post highlighted this issue, and I hope for many more.
FREE PALESTINE! We all have a responsibility to speak up and raise awareness about the genocide which most of us are indirectly funding. Mindvalley members and those that share an interest with Mindvalley’s mission are compassionate people – this should extend around the world. What is happening in Gaza is undeniably an ethnic cleansing and a violation of human rights. I am glad that this post highlighted this issue, and I hope for many more.
Amen! Thank you for your email. What a welcomed and thoughtful message composed with love, research, courage and heart. If this is the first of many messages like this-count me in! If this is the beginning of a specific call to action- count me in! If this is a manifesto to start a movement COUNT ME IN!
Absolutely brilliant! Vishen has captured what true freedom IS and how USA is crumbling. Sad but true…
Vishen,
This is a fantastic, inspiring letter!
So true and so needed.
We need unity and community to change the direction our country is moving.
From,
– Immigration defense lawyer and former immigration judge
So thoughtfully summarized, outlined & supported with citations! Best content in my in box in months. Resonate highly with pillars of freedom for a global community. Please continue to dive deep, stay hopeful & inspired so we may be touched by your wisdom and call to think/act for the collective best of humanity,
thank you for speaking out, for having the numbers that tell it like it really is, for saying the things I would like to say. I am old enough to have grown up in a country that really was free here in the United States of America. I look back wondering when the turn began. Was it with the assassination of John F. Kennedy and Martin Luther King Junior? I think so. And what can I do to return to that democracy? I have actually gone to chat GPT to ask for practical advice for myself, but the advice still seems rather puny: write a letter to the editor, talk to your grandchildren, stay healthy yourself. Etc. we definitely need a free press to hear the truths, even if they break our hearts. we need to listen to and to find truth tellers with courage and ability to stand up and take back our democracy. I think we need to talk about it and not hide from it which is so much easier to do. Thank you again. Let us work for a better tomorrow.
Spot on! A sharp and clear analysis of America as it is today. Written with clarity and so much love and respect. Let’s all take off that veil, that illusion of freedom and being the best country in the world. Only when we face the truth and are willing to accept the truth can we start the work of becoming what we aspire to be.
Thank you for this post. I am a 79 year old Canadian woman living in Mexico. I worked in the Canadian political system for 20 years before I retired. It gave me a bird’s eyeview of government, more than I ever learned in school. I say with confidence that it is the political system that is broken. It was set up and influenced by those who wanted control. Puppet masters behind the scenes. Many were geedy elite, often funding both sides of wars. They had much to gain by creating chaos and poverty. Keep people in fear and they are easier to control. Dumb them down with TV and powerful media. I say all sytems need to collapse so we can start over and build with consensus, cooperation and collaboration. However before that can happen people need to wake up and see that what we have been doing is not working. If they keep living in denial it won’t happen soon. Kudos to the system breakers. There is a movement to wake up the whole World. It comes from those who have the courage to speak up and express what they see and know in their heart.
Thank you for speaking your truth. I have been a fan of Mindvalley since you started. Your words will encourage and inspire others. I truly believe Mindvalley is successful because it is heart based. Keep up the good work Vishen.