Written By David Gomez
The US elections are just around the corner and as direct neighbours of that country, I think it is important to understand what the election of its new president in November of this year means. We all know that Donald Trump is seeking re-election and his vice-presidential candidate is Ohio Republican Senator J.D. Vance. On the other hand, after Joe Biden’s nomination declined, the current Democratic Party presidential ticket is Vice President Kamala Harris as presidential candidate and Minnesota Governor Tim Walz.
Discussions about both presidential tickets may be controversial on one side or the other; it is also likely that many people think that going for one side or the other means having an inclination towards one political spectrum or another (right or left). Many may also come to believe that it is a fight between capitalism and communism. Something absolutely wrong and anachronistic in my humble opinion. That fight died with the fall of the Berlin Wall and the end of the Cold War. The truly free Western countries that have grown up under the idea of a free market social system should no longer have such discussions. The most appropriate discussion should perhaps refer to what level of extremism we face as a country, region, continent, or society.
In some past issues, I have spoken about the excesses that the expansion of the far right can mean in the world. And do not misunderstand me, any extremism, whether from the right or the left, should not be tolerated under any circumstances. Let us only look at what is happening in Venezuela to understand what a left-wing extremism represented in a dictatorship like Maduro’s can do to democracy and to the lives of millions of people.
Similarly, the far right is causing division, hatred and backwardness in many countries. With this in mind, I would like to write a little about the proposal of Donald Trump’s team for this possible second presidential term, which I find very worrying and deserving of the disapproval of the free world.
Project 2025 is an ultra-conservative plan designed to prepare for a possible second term for Trump. This plan outlines precise steps to restructure the political, economic, social, and human rights system (among other aspects) of the United States. I am going to try to mention some of the points of this plan that not only symbolizes extremism, but also materializes as a latent danger for this continent and for the entire world.
In political terms, Project 2025 calls for the replacement of many career U.S. public servants with politically and ideologically appointed presidential appointees. Furthermore, the project proposes a significant reduction in the size and scope of the federal government, as well as the dissolution or privatization of many key state agencies. It is intended to systematically reduce federal oversight. And while the latter may read as a good thing in theory, it is unclear who and how will determine which private organizations can handle these tasks.
Regarding education and human rights, this bill seeks to create provisions to roll back the rights of transgender people, eliminating diversity, equity and inclusion programs from federal and educational institutions; as well as restricting interpretations of anti-discrimination laws to exclude protections based on sexual orientation and gender identity. Let’s not forget that the project also includes possible interference in the public education system to eliminate any idea of critical thinking in students.
On the other hand, regarding the public health system, the project includes several measures to restrict access to abortion services, as well as block federal funding for medical care related to those cases; it also seeks to impose work requirements for Medicaid. Regarding environmental policies, this plan proposes a drastic change by prioritizing fossil fuels such as oil and gas over green energy.
Finally, I want to mention the economic and technological points related to this plan. Project 2025 proposes a simplified tax code with a flat tax rate and reduced corporate taxes. It also seeks to regulate technology by banning apps like TikTok, reforming and supporting state laws that penalize social media companies for banning users based on their views, even though those views can cause violence as has happened before.
There are many more points that deserve careful review and would take much more space to explain, but I cannot stop thinking that this Project 2025 is a kind of authoritarian manual that could inappropriately concentrate power and undermine American democratic institutions. I believe that this plan cannot be replicated here, but it deserves to be reviewed and to be concerned about a completely possible scenario in the region.
