As I see it, The Heritage Foundation’s Project 2025 combines a Fascist Manifesto and Procrustean bed. I cannot bring myself to read this right-wing screed. My impression and understanding draw on admittedly limited sources.
Fascist derives from “fasces.” In the Roman Empire, “magistrate” or magistrates were the highest government officials. Their symbol of office was a bundle of rods wrapped with ribbon, holding an ax head, a “fasces.” As carriers of the law, magistrates’ words were final. (Older Americans may recall fasces on the obverse of our Winged Liberty Head dime.)
Merriam Webster defines Fascism as,
“a populist political philosophy, movement, or regime (such as that of the Fascisti) which exalts nation and often race over the individual, that is associated with a centralized autocratic government headed by a dictatorial leader, and that is characterized by severe economic and social regimentation and by forcible oppression of opposition.”
A Manifesto is,
“a written statement declaring publicly the intentions, notions, or views of its issuer.”
Wikipedia explains the genesis and function of a Procrustean bed:
“In Greek mythology Procrustes . . . was a rogue smith and bandit from Attica who attacked people by stretching them or cutting off their legs, so as to force them to fit the size if an iron bed.
The word Procrustean is thus used by analogy to describe, for example, situations where an arbitrary standard is used to measure success, while completely disregarding obvious harm that results from the effort.”
Project 2025 would strap all Americans into it’s ultra-right-wing Procrustean bed. They alone have the truth, and the rest of us will damn-well live according to it!
The Fascist creed was articulated by M*A*S*H’s major Frank Burns,
“The way I see it, if we all don’t march in step, if we don’t do as we’re told, if we don’t follow our leaders blindly, there’s no hope of saving our freedom!”
Nazis had Mein Kampf. The Heritage Foundation has Project 2025.
Ironically, determined to impose Project 2025 on all Americans, far-right Fascists believe that some dark, left wing, cabal, Antifa, anti-Fascist, is working to force its values on everyone.
This is not so. Perhaps to its detriment vis-à-vis conservativism, Antifa has no organization, no structure, no manifesto. There are no card-carrying Antifains. Anti-Fascists share a gut level, conviction that, so long as we do not harm others, Americans enjoy unalienable rights to believe and act according to our unique values and beliefs; however bizarre and incomprehensible those values and beliefs may be to others.
Antifa is not intent on destroying American democracy.
Antifa is the bedrock of American democracy.
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