How dire: This is very subjective. I have moments of deep dispair, and then I see glimmers of hope. I don't know what to tell you other than it seems like the ratchet is turning against freedom more than for it.

Where to look: I suggest starting with one term, though often overly applied to just terrorsts, and that is "threat finance".

Timeline: Minimum is ~120 years or so.

If we had one of those we wouldn't need a CIA or NSA. Such a system couldn't very well be less correct than they've been for their entire existences.