Suddenly, democracy won’t go down without a fight.

Some thoughts from FFD co-founder Jim Nathan.

As recently as Sunday, July 21, it appeared that the U.S. national presidential election may go to an autocrat by apathy and default. American democracy might become history. We could feel the fears and despair. Then suddenly, within milliseconds of President Biden’s decision to pass the torch, an instant surge of heightened energy surfaced; followed by a groundswell of delegate support for Kamala Harris as the presumptive Democratic Party presidential nominee. Within days a 2024 VP running mate will be announced.

This excitement coupled with growing awareness of the draconian Project 2025, led and designed by many strong Trump supporters under the tutelage of the Heritage Foundation and designed to destroy our nearly 250-year-old American democracy, has generated enthusiasm and optimism. We can save and protect democracy!

During a recent FFDI educational program, we learned from Andra Watkins that Project 2025 calls for gutting civil-service protections by terminating or reclassifying tens of thousands of core, trained career Federal employees, and replacing them with political appointees loyal to the president. It also outlines conducting the largest mass deportation effort in history, imposing sweeping tariffs, targeting enemies by using presidential powers, erasing the Justice Department’s independence from the president, reducing benefits for Medicare and veterans, ending diversity, equity and inclusion programs plus any support for transgenderism, while imposing Christian Nationalist bible-interpreted laws, regulations, and policies to tell us how to live and conform. And that’s not all! There is something in Project 2025 for everyone to hate and to fear!

Project 2025 is a product of the Heritage Foundation’s Mandate for Leadership series. Heritage president, Kevin Roberts is recently quoted, “We are in the process of the second American Revolution that will remain bloodless if the left allows it to be .” Well, that revolution calls for massive consolidation of power within the executive branch controlled by the US president. The architects and funders of Project 2025, are salivating over the opportunity to regain the White House after losing in 2020. A presidential candidate at a recent Friday night rally announced, “I love you, Christians. … In four years, you don’t have to vote again. We’ll have it fixed so good, you’re not going to have to vote.” As messy as democracy can be, is that the America we want, where we don’t need to vote or maybe won’t even be allowed to vote?

Of course, for every action, there is a reaction. Events are moving rapidly. Just as the former president has tried to distance himself from the abortion issue, one he proudly led, he is now trying to distance himself from Project 2025.

Project 2025 and Agenda 47

On Tuesday, July 30, Project 2025 director Paul Dans stepped down at the Heritage Foundation. Trump campaign leaders immediately denied any connection to Project 2025. We cannot let Trump or his campaign and political advisors escape this lie. Steve Bannon, a close Trump ally, just days before reporting to federal prison for contempt of Congress, waved a copy of Project 2025 and stated it will “take apart the administrative state brick by brick.”

The former president’s campaign platform is termed, Agenda 47. It is no coincidence of the similarity with Project 2025. They both focus on consolidating executive power, reducing federal oversight, and implementing draconian policies designed to increase authoritarianism while reducing hard-earned civil liberties. America’s slow slog toward a more welcoming, multicultural, fair, caring, and respectful society is under attack. Democracy truly is at risk!

Project 2025 and Agenda 47 are tied together. So, let’s not be tricked by Trump and his team’s efforts to distance themselves from Project 2025. Succumbing to that would be like accepting another Big Lie. Project 2025, Agenda 47, and the Trump camp are linked to create a unitary executive and to tell us how we can live. We cannot let that happen. We cannot be silent!

Closing Thoughts

Nothing earthshattering by these closing comments but some thoughts and appreciation for you, our more than 900 FFD participants:

Thanks for being a part of our journey to protect and preserve democracy.
Thanks to so many of you for being active and volunteering with various pro-democracy organizations.
Thanks for your contributions and donations to many campaigns and organizations including FFD & FFDI where funds are being used to reach democracy-minded, registered "non-voters".
We must keep this heightened energy up while also educating ourselves and others on Project 2025. Watch Andra Watkins from our recent program, “How Project 2025 will ruin your life!” It's worth the time.
Be informed. Follow our upcoming programs identified in this newsletter and encourage others to participate.
Help assure that you and others are registered to vote, preferably by assuring you are registered to vote-by-mail and get others to verify their registration status and vote. Remember in 2022, over 2.8 million REGISTERED Florida Democrats did not vote and over 2 million REGISTERED Florida independents did not vote. Don’t let that happen on August 20 for the primaries or on November 5.
Florida is already the Canary in the Democracy Coal Mine and a laboratory for the autocratic designs of Project 2025 where power and control will tell us how to live, think, and act while relying on the courts to back them up. Let’s not let the flame burn out. It is up to us … obviously not the courts or the legislators. Democracy’s survival is far from assured.
Of course, regardless of the challenges, we do have hope and an energized opportunity to protect democracy this fall. Keep it up!!!

UPCOMING FFD EDUCATIONAL PROGRAMS

Potentially Flippable Florida House & Senate Seats

Platform Perspectives on Florida U.S. Senate Race

August 29, 2024 ... 7-8:30pm ET

Virtual Program: Register Here

In recent years, the Florida legislature passed and Governor DeSantis signed many bills that steal our hard-earned freedoms. More regressive proposals are in the works ... if ideological extremists continue to control Tallahassee.

While a wholesale transformation of the state legislature is not likely in the near future, flipping a few seats in the 2024 election cycle could end the extreme super-majority and restore some legislative balance. While Floridians for Democracy is not endorsing candidates, we have consulted allied groups to evaluate state races where pro-democracy contenders have a realistic chance of victory. This important educational program is scheduled for August 29, the week following the Florida primary elections. Thus, the November ballot finalists will be known.

On August 29, Dahanny Roman, Political & Field Director for America Votes Florida, will join us virtually to share the results of research on potentially flippable Florida legislative seats and to contrast the platforms of the finalists for Florida's U.S. Senate seat. America Votes is a pro-democracy group working to protect voting rights and build a more representative democracy. Understanding the research may help identify where your investments of volunteer time and money may have the greatest impact this fall.

Bob Schaeffer, co-author of Winning Local and State Elections (Simon & Schuster) and a 25-year participant in Florida politics as a campaign consultant and organizer, will facilitate the discussion with Dahanny and FFD participants. You don't want to miss this!

(Sept. 12, 7-8:30pm ET, Virtual)

Volunteer Opportunity

Tabling at FGCU

Are YOU excited for the efforts to protect democracy in the upcoming election!? We are too!

Volunteer to table on the FGCU campus Aug 26-30, 11:30 am – 2:30 pm. It can be just one shift!

Efforts are focused on voter education about Amendments 1 and 4, handing out postcards, and other GOTV efforts. Email Katelyn at tellgrenkatelyn@gmail.com to sign up for a shift.

Other Items of Interest

Florida Veterans for Common Sense

August 12th, virtual, 7-8pm with David Pepper, author of Saving Democracy and Laboratories of Autocracy. Register here.
Impact of Project 2025 on Veterans by Judy Smith of Florida Veterans for Common Sense.
August 14, WSLR Sarasota, recorded radio interview with Matthew Taylor on impact of Christian Nationalism in Project 2025.

Florida Ballot Issues 2024

August 14, 2-3:30 pm

On the November ballot, there will be 3 important issues (2 with statewide implications) which will be discussed in this virtual panel presented by the League of Women Voters of Collier County:

Amendment 1 on Changing the Ballot Category of School Board Members from Non-Partisan to Partisan
Amendment 4 on the Constitutional Right to Abortion before Fetal Viability
Collier County Public Schools Referendum on Using Capital Funds for Operating Expenses

For more info & to register click here; You don't need to live in Collier to attend and learn!

OUR MISSION STATEMENT

We will coordinate a Florida network of social justice advocates dedicated to saving and preserving democracy by helping link individuals and organizations to achieve shared goals, create connections throughout a wide community, and speak with a louder voice.

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Floridians for Democracy Institute (FFDI) is a 501c3 organization with charitable and educational purposes which provides education and awareness of the risks to freedoms in Florida. FFDI does not support or oppose any candidates for political office.