Marianne Williamson for POTUS??

Over the past couple of days a few friends have shared the news that Marianne Williamson, an author and teacher whose work I have read for years, is considering running for President of the United States. (You can click those last few words to read her announcement.)

Perhaps you have read Marianne's most famous quote at some point:

“Our deepest fear is not that we are inadequate. Our deepest fear is that we are powerful beyond measure. It is our light, not our darkness that most frightens us....”

As an almost-dual U.S.-Canadian citizen, I would love to see Marianne Williamson leading the U.S., not only for my friends and family in the states, but because of the country’s international clout. (Even though, as I just learned, the U.S. holds only 4.4% of the world's population, its wealth and firepower influences so many countries' policies.)

My thoughts may be unpopular – and totally un-IPpie-like – but they come from my gut and hours of thinking and discussion with wise, insightful people…. 

I honestly don't believe America is anywhere NEAR mature enough to elect as President someone as evolved as Marianne Williamson. I would absolutely LOVE to be wrong about this. I sincerely hope she runs for office (though I’m not convinced that President is the place to start.) I believe she has the potential to begin opening more people's minds -- those who don't judge and mock her, that is. She could get the political ship heading in a wiser, more compassionate direction. 

 

We who work with clients know that it takes time (and baby steps) to help shift even the most willing people from their fears. There are millions of people in the states – nearly half of the voting population – committed to the status quo, insisting that being tough and kicking a** on the world stage is “great” – people who don't seem to be interested in win-win collaboration or inclusion, let alone creating a loving, empowered world family.

It’s my belief that, in order to overthrow Trump in 2020, we U.S. voters will need to support the candidate who has the best chance of ousting him. Many of us know and love Marianne Williamson; however, most of my friends have never heard of her – or perhaps have heard her quote above and nothing more. 

We need someone that can actually be heard by a larger population than just their “base.”  Over the years I’ve seen many liberal, compassionate voters split their votes between two or three candidates, hoping to elect somone with awesome values, and lose to the regimented conservatives by doing so. 

As much as I wish that America was ready for a wise president (female or male), I think there are a lot of tough old white men and their diamond-studded wives (not to mention their middle-aged kids) who are clamped onto their wealth and privilege, wanting someone who looks and thinks like them in the White House. How can we find a win-win in this environment?

Sadly, in our current culture, I don’t believe that a highly-educated woman talking about loving and spiritual awakening can beat a neighborhood bully appealing to people’s base selves. There are too many people looking to blame rather than looking to connect. 

I’m not saying the tide isn’t shifting and there is no hope. Our message of empowerment is strong and miraculous and is spreading. I just don’t think we’re there yet.

The 2020 election is an important stepping-stone one, where moderate-to-liberal U.S. voters will need to choose their candidate carefully, finding someone that the semi-scared, on-the-fence folks AND more open-hearted, inclusive people will elect. Our next candidate has to beat a TV rock star! Our candidate will have to know how to play the current political game, or guaranteed they will lose, and we will have four more years of Trump's bullying, lies and self-serving policies to endure. That person will need to speak the language of the terrified nationalists in order to help ease them into a healthier future. I’m not sure that Marianne Williamson speaks that language.

How about you? I'd be interested to hear your thoughts about M.W. as POTUS or any other ideas sparked by reading this post.