[annalex]

author had the gall to claim that we are freer today than ever before

He was quoting Goldberg. Besides, the quote explains in what sense "freer".

[Captain Kirk]

The author quoted Goldberg because he agreed with him. What "trendline" is Mr. Goldberg talking about: the growth in government as a percentage of GNP, the growth in the numbers of pages in the rederal register, regulations imposing nanny state regulations on smoking and guns? All of these "trendlines" are up, up, up.