Project 2025
In September of 2022 I discussed the concern we must have as nudists over the many implications of the Dobbs decision and how it could have far-reaching impact on our freedoms. At the time I said the worst result for nudists of this ruling is the death of the stare decisis doctrine. Since then, we have only seen a further erosion of the freedoms we thought we enjoyed in the United States.
Now I’m stepping out of my role as GAT Chair to discuss an item that has been receiving quite a bit of news coverage the last few weeks. I’m still working my way through this document but, in my opinion the implications for practicing nudists does not look good. I’m referring to Project 2025. Project 2025 is based on abandoning the current government model in the US in favor of their new agenda.
The Project 2025 Forward states this is an agenda prepared by and for conservatives who will be ready on Day One of the next Administration to save our country from the brink of disaster. The view is we are lost without the guidance of their new order. This is an unprecedented attack on our personal freedom. The promise is the “pro-family promises expressed in this book, and central to the next conservative President’s agenda, must go much further than the traditional, narrow definition of ‘Family Issues’. Every threat to family stability must be confronted”. Of course, the authors of Project 2025 are the arbitrators of what constitutes these expanded family values, all while claiming to care about a parent’s right to raise their children as they see fit. This approach fits right in with Dobb’s attack on the Right to Privacy doctrine, which is the same doctrine used to protect the Nudist/Naturist community.
Nothing about Project 2025 sounds like it embraces freedom or precedent, which seems to be of no importance to the people pushing this idea under the guise of a return to safer times. It calls for a wholesale renunciation of personal freedom or freedom of expression. Laws and regulations that have been enacted to protect our health and welfare are rejected in favor of letting businesses run their establishments without regard to the health and welfare of the consumer or the general public. Add to this the Supreme Court’s ruling this year reinforcing this idea and adding that only the courts can rule on what a law means. Regulations by agencies to provide guidelines are not to be the purview of the experts and regulators in the Executive Branch of government, just the courts. Regulations promulgated by the FDA, EPA, and many other agencies affecting public health and welfare, among others, are now subject to rejection not by the experts in the field, but by judges appointed for life with no rules for how they may act or expertise in any field, apparently including law and precedent.
On personal matters there is no privacy or protection anymore under Project 2025. What you do in your own home is no longer important or personal. Rather than a libertarian view of government, it is a big brother view – Why are you behind closed doors? What are you doing? – regardless of whether your actions affect anyone outside your home or not. How can we stop you from exercising that freedom?
As I said in 2022, it’s more important than ever for us to be involved in local politics. We must be sure we elect people to positions of authority that know nude use is a legitimate use of public land and private use of your land in the nude is not a crime. Make sure you vette your local as well as your regional and national leaders to make sure they will support your right to be nude.
The views expressed herein are the author’s and do not necessarily reflect a position of the Association.
-Tim Mullins
