Project 2025 What Is Ordered Liberty?

(Part 1 of 3 for PAID SUBSCRIBERS) And how its interpretation allows Christo-fascist Republicans to demolish Constitutional guardrails (Scroll to the end to listen)

Project 2025 uses words like ordered liberty and well-ordered nation. To understand how Christo-fascist Republicans are already using the concept of ordered liberty to demolish guardrails, we must first understand the term ordered liberty.

Photo by Tingey Injury Law Firm on Unsplash

Merriam-Webster’s Dictionary defines ordered liberty as follows:

Ordered Liberty = Individual freedom is limited by the need for social order.

Ordered liberty promotes individual freedom while allowing for a set of rules to maintain order in society. In the United States, that set of rules is outlined in our Constitution…

and its various amendments. Note: The Constitution does not mention the term ordered liberty.

Before we dive into the concept of ordered liberty, let’s cover the guardrails outlined by the Constitution or otherwise understood to be necessary for our society to function. They include:

1. Separation of powers among the 3 branches of government and among federal and state government functions.

2. Checks and balances derived from separation of powers.

3. Leaders at every level of government who believe in the separation of powers and encourage Americans to respect our institutions. Points 1, 2 and 3 are covered in Tuesday’s newsletter.

4. A well-trained, deeply knowledgeable civil service to support government functions.

5. Respect for the rule of law, which includes ethical rules civil servants follow. Items 4 and 5 are covered in Wednesday’s newsletter.

6. Functioning political parties. Democracy requires viable options. Right now, the United States only has one functional political party - Democrats.

7. A free press that can hold power to account without fear of oppression, prosecution, or jail time.

8. Good, reliable information to help Americans make voting decisions and support government functions. Misinformation and disinformation are attacks on this necessary guardrail. Items 7 and 8 are covered in Thursday’s newsletter.

Whoever controls these guardrails determines the meaning of ordered liberty.

I’m not a lawyer or a philosopher, but I understand the essence of ordered liberty: Those who set the rules for maintaining order control how much individual freedom exists in society.

Properly understood within the framework of a constitutional republic that values ordered liberty, the Department of Justice has two primary functions: protecting public safety and defending the rule of law.

Project 2025, page 545

The Supreme Court mentioned ordered liberty 16 times when they overturned Roe v Wade. (Source: Portside) To a Christian Nationalist, it is no paradox to use the term ordered liberty to defend and expand Second Amendment rights while removing a woman’s right to bodily autonomy. Ordered liberty equals God’s law. Ordered liberty equals theocracy. (See “What Is a Christian Nationalist HERE.)

Christian Nationalists believe the founders intended for the United States to be a Christian nation with the Bible as the foundation of law. Therefore, their definition of order will always mean this behavior offends me because the Bible says it offends God. We must honor God by limiting individual freedoms to control this behavior. (See “What Is a Family?” HERE.)

They equate ordered liberty with their definition of Christian morality. But how will it impact Constitutional guardrails?

Let’s examine the original mifepristone decision. Christian Nationalist attorneys shopped their case to a small-town, 45-appointed Christian Nationalist judge. His ruling was not based in law; it was drawn from how he interprets the Bible.

It was appealed to the Fifth Circuit Court of Appeals, another court corrupted by 45-appointed Christian Nationalist judges. These judges believe it is their responsibility to redefine ordered liberty as their interpretation of God’s law.

This case is being heard by a Christian Nationalist-dominated Supreme Court later this month. This court has already equated ordered liberty with their interpretation of God’s law by removing a woman’s right to bodily autonomy.

Their decision could be rendered moot if Congress passed a law affirming the FDA’s approval and guidelines for dispensing mifepristone, but Congress contains enough Christian Nationalist Republicans to block its passage. A longstanding respect for government experts (like officials at the FDA) is also under attack.

Christian Nationalists are using their interpretation of ordered liberty to appoint Christian Nationalist judges and justices, corrupting the Judicial branch. They are also using their weight in Congress to obstruct access to individual rights that offend their sense of morality. (Over 100 members of Congress are Christian Nationalists, a third of professing Christians there.) Checks-and-balances, one of our most important guardrails, aren’t holding.

They’ve already removed enough guardrails to create several Christo-fascist states. They ignore federal orders and judicial rulings that offend their concept of ordered liberty because they believe God grants them that right.

Texas, Alabama, Idaho, Florida and more are windows into where a Christian Nationalist federal government will apply their concept of ordered liberty to the whole country. Blue states will be forced to follow a Christian Nationalist definition of ordered liberty or risk forfeiting all federal funds.

Project 2025 recommends a withholding of federal funds as punishment for states that flout a national abortion ban, refuse to follow directives to use taxpayer funds for religious public education, or ignore rules for deporting immigrants. If Republicans win, they will go even further.

What Christian Nationalist Republicans mean when they call for ordered liberty matters for democracy. Should Republicans gain power, it is how they will gaslight Americans into accepting their Christo-fascist interpretation of the Constitution and the removal of guardrails.