Exclusive Interview: Marianne Williamson “Illuminates” Exeter
Edited excerpts from The Exonian’s exclusive interview with political activist and former presidential candidate Marianne Williamson.
Disclaimer: The Exonian does not endorse any presidential candidate or political views.
The Exonian
What made you decide to get into politics?
Marianne Williamson
We should all think of ourselves as in politics. The word politics comes from the [Greek] root, politeia. It doesn’t mean ‘of the government’; it means ‘of the people,’ who are all involved in politics, and, if we’re not, we should be, in the sense that our emotional, psychological and intellectual orientation to life should include a conservative political and participation in political issues.
The Exonian
What made you decide to run for president?
Marianne Williamson
I think, for many of us, the election of Donald Trump changed everything. It was the thing I could do which I felt was the greatest service to the transformation that’s needed.
The Exonian
What has driven your key policies?
Marianne Williamson
I think the way to defeat Trump, as well as to transform this country, is not just through a set of policy prescriptions, but rather through an alternative vision for where the country needs to go. If you’re only talking policies, your opponent can shoot down the policy. But he can’t shoot down a vision. And that’s why the idea of a season of repair is a season of moral repair. That has been the forefront for all of the policy prescriptions on which I stand.
The Exonian
And what issue or issues has been most important to you throughout the campaign?
Marianne Williamson
Department of Children and Youth in order to rescue the millions of underserved, at risk, chronically traumatized children.
A Department of Peace to help establish peace creation as a core principle of our national security agenda.
Reparations for slavery and the Native Americans, which I feel is necessary to heal the soul of this nation.
A Whole Health Plan which includes incentivizing health and addressing the underlying factors for so much of America’s chronic illness—not just figuring out a way to give everyone health care. This is extremely important in life. But we need to create greater health.
In addition to that, I’ve been very aware we need to enter the corporate aristocracy that now dominates our government and, through the extension of our society, is very corrupt. It’s very undemocratic.
The Exonian
Why haven’t other candidates taken them up?
Marianne Williamson
Because they do not all represent a basis to short term profitability for the huge multinational corporations that dominate Washington.
The Exonian
And how do you plan to stay involved in the political landscape?
Marianne Williamson
I feel there needs to be a movement a political movement of moral repair in this country. I plan to continue articulating these ideas, these principles, these issues. I will be hosting a Repair America conference in Washington, D.C. probably at the end of March. And whatever else my heart leads me to do in service to the goal of course correcting our country while there is still time.
The Exonian
What would be involved in the Repair America Conference?
Marianne Williamson
We will take the six pillars of moral repair as articulated. You can see them on my website, and we will have experts in all of those areas so that people can go deeper in their understanding of what’s possible. And I think this will be helpful—not only to voters but also to people who are running for office who want to know more about what that would mean.
The Exonian
Are there any candidates who have kind of piqued your interest that you’d like to work with in the future?
Marianne Williamson
Bernie [Sanders], Elizabeth [Warren], Andrew [Yang] and Tulsi [Gabbard].
The Exonian
Do you think they would be adopted by them?
Marianne Williamson
I have no way of knowing that.
The Exonian
And what led you to suspend your campaign?
Marianne Williamson
I didn’t have the money, and I didn’t have the machine that were adequate to take things forward to where they need to be an element of the campaign.