Last month, it introduced a bill that, if signed into law, will restrict restaurants from offering any drinks other than water or unflavored milk with their kids' meals.

It's ridiculous. But this isn't the first time California's government has tried to strip away personal freedom under the guise of knowing what's best.

It also recently banned restaurants from using plastic straws.

Measures like these are proof that California is rapidly devolving into a full-blown nanny state. Unfortunately, it's not alone. Governments across the country are doing the same thing.

It's one of today's most deeply concerning trends. So I got Doug Casey on the phone to get his take…