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Marianne Williamson on Race, Reparations and Trump’s ‘Dark Psychic Force’ Marianne Williamson on Race, Reparations and Trump’s ‘Dark Psychic Force’
(32 minutes later)
Marianne Williamson, the author and self-help guru who is seeking the Democratic nomination for president, has drawn outsize attention during the first two debates for her unconventional responses.Marianne Williamson, the author and self-help guru who is seeking the Democratic nomination for president, has drawn outsize attention during the first two debates for her unconventional responses.
Ms. Williamson, a political novice whose only prior campaign experience was a failed run for Congress in 2014, often speaks in lofty, spiritual aphorisms that can sometimes meander through multiple topics. She has offered unconventional platform positions, such as establishing a “Department of Peace” as part of a plan to reduce violent conflicts around the world. Ms. Williamson, a political novice whose only prior campaign experience was an unsuccessful run for Congress in 2014, often speaks in lofty, spiritual aphorisms that can sometimes meander through multiple topics. She has offered unconventional platform positions, such as establishing a “Department of Peace” as part of a plan to reduce violent conflicts around the world.
But when she responded to a question about reparations, an issue that is rarely discussed with any specificity, Ms. Williamson offered a frank response, with a price tag. But when she responded to a question about reparations during the presidential debate on Tuesday, an issue that is rarely discussed with any specificity, Ms. Williamson offered a frank response, with a price tag.
“Well, first of all, it’s not $500 billion in financial assistance, it’s $200 to $500 billion payment of a debt that is owed. That is what reparations is. We need deep truth-telling when it comes, we don’t need another commission to look at evidence. I appreciate what Congressman O’Rourke has said. It is time for us to simply realize that this country will not heal. All that a country is, is a collection of people. People heal when there’s some deep truth-telling. We need to recognize, when it comes to the economic gap between blacks and whites in America, it does come from a great injustice that has never been dealt with. That great injustice has had to do with the fact that there was 250 years of slavery followed by another hundred years of domestic terrorism.”“Well, first of all, it’s not $500 billion in financial assistance, it’s $200 to $500 billion payment of a debt that is owed. That is what reparations is. We need deep truth-telling when it comes, we don’t need another commission to look at evidence. I appreciate what Congressman O’Rourke has said. It is time for us to simply realize that this country will not heal. All that a country is, is a collection of people. People heal when there’s some deep truth-telling. We need to recognize, when it comes to the economic gap between blacks and whites in America, it does come from a great injustice that has never been dealt with. That great injustice has had to do with the fact that there was 250 years of slavery followed by another hundred years of domestic terrorism.”
Though some presidential candidates have embraced the idea of reparations, Ms. Williamson’s answer stood out on the debate stage for the how directly she addressed the issue. Though some presidential candidates have embraced the idea of reparations, Ms. Williamson stood out on the debate stage for how directly she addressed the issue.
Critics have dismissed the idea of reparations on the grounds that it would be exceptionally difficult, if not impossible, to get through Congress — and also potentially divisive. But Ms. Williamson has frequently mentioned her specific plan for reparations, though her campaign still hasn’t put forth how they would pay for a reparations program. Critics have dismissed the idea of reparations on the grounds that it is potentially divisive and would be exceptionally difficult, if not impossible, to get through Congress. But Ms. Williamson has frequently mentioned her specific plan for reparations, though her campaign has still not put forth how it would pay for a reparations program.
When she was asked how she calculated her $200- to $500-billion price tag, Ms. Williamson continued: When she was asked how she calculated her $200 to $500 billion price tag, Ms. Williamson continued:
“If you did the math of 40 acres and a mule, given there was 4 to 5 million slaves at the end of the Civil War, and they were probably 40 acres and a mule for every family of four, if you did the math today, it would be trillions of dollars. And I believe that anything less than $100 billion is an insult, and $200 to $500 billion is politically feasible today because so many Americans realize there is an injustice that continues to form a toxicity underneath the surface an emotional turbulence that only reparations will heal.” “If you did the math of 40 acres and a mule, given there was four to five million slaves at the end of the Civil War, and there were probably 40 acres and a mule for every family of four, if you did the math today, it would be trillions of dollars. And I believe that anything less than $100 billion is an insult, and $200 to $500 billion is politically feasible today because so many Americans realize there is an injustice that continues to form a toxicity underneath the surface, an emotional turbulence that only reparations will heal.”
Earlier, in a discussion about race in America centered around the water crisis in Flint, Mich., Ms. Williamson delivered an answer that showed her unconventional, and this time a bit more meandering, style, targeting President Trump and his recent attacks on politicians of color. Earlier in the debate, in a discussion about race in America centered on the water crisis in Flint, Mich., Ms. Williamson delivered an answer that showed her unconventional, and this time a bit more meandering, style, targeting President Trump and his recent attacks on politicians of color.
“My response is Flint is the tip of the iceberg. I was in Denmark, South Carolina, where it is a lot of talk about it being the next Flint. We have an administration that has gutted the Clean Water Act. We have communities, particularly communities of color and disadvantaged communities, all over this country who are suffering from environmental injustice. “My response is Flint is the tip of the iceberg. I was in Denmark, South Carolina, where it is a lot of talk about it being the next Flint. We have an administration that has gutted the Clean Water Act. We have communities, particularly communities of color and disadvantaged communities, all over this country, who are suffering from environmental injustice.
“I assure you — I lived in Grosse Pointe, what happened in Flint would not have happened in Grosse Pointe. This is part of the dark underbelly of American society. The racism the bigotry, and the entire conversation that we’re having here tonight, if you think any of this wonkiness is going to deal with this dark psychic force of the collectivized hatred that this president is bringing up in this country, then I’m afraid that the Democrats are going to see some very dark days. “I assure you — I lived in Grosse Pointe, what happened in Flint would not have happened in Grosse Pointe. This is part of the dark underbelly of American society. The racism, the bigotry and the entire conversation that we’re having here tonight, if you think any of this wonkiness is going to deal with this dark psychic force of the collectivized hatred that this president is bringing up in this country, then I’m afraid that the Democrats are going to see some very dark days.
“We need to say it like it is — it’s bigger than Flint. It’s all over this country. It’s particularly people of color. It’s particularly people who do not have the money to fight back, and if the Democrats don’t start saying it, why would those people feel they’re there for us, and if those people don’t feel it, they won’t vote for us, and Donald Trump will win.” “We need to say it like it is — it’s bigger than Flint. It’s all over this country. It’s particularly people of color. It’s particularly people who do not have the money to fight back. And if the Democrats don’t start saying it, why would those people feel they’re there for us. And if those people don’t feel it, they won’t vote for us, and Donald Trump will win.”