Sadly, in this critical election we have two aged candidates who remain anchored to the past, at a time when America needs to focus on the future. Both Joe Biden and Donald Trump have won their party’s nomination and will be facing each other in the general election. Though the candidates are already locked in, there is still a way to inject into this campaign the real policy issues that must be courageously confronted if we are to secure a brighter future. The vehicle to do so is Marianne Williamson. Given the options we will be presented in November, a vote for Biden is the only sane choice and I will support him in the general election.

In the primary, however, I’m going to vote Marianne Williamson — a candidate I am actually excited about. Williamson has been a Democratic candidate for President for the entire election cycle but the Democratic National Committee has shut her out and mainstream media has refused to give her coverage. In other words, the national party and associated media have taken it upon themselves to decide which candidates the people get to hear from. This is one of the many reasons I’ve been outspoken about the need to evolve beyond the current two-party system and the relationship between political parties, money in elections, and corporate, for-profit media.

I’ve been tracking Marianne Williamson for years, have met her several times, and we have had detailed conversations. She is brilliant, savvy, and the only candidate speaking honestly about the deep, challenging systems change that we must undertake in order to solve pressing problems like economic inequality, homelessness, health care that is increasingly unaffordable, and climate change.

Here are some of the things she stands for and is committed to:

• An immediate cease-fire in Gaza.

• Reproductive freedom for all women.

• A 21st-century Economic Bill of Rights. See her vid on economic system change and fairness.

• Declaring a Climate Emergency and getting serious about reducing greenhouse gas emissions.

• A health care system that is focused on health, not just medical care — that is, a system that ensures everyone has timely access to quality, affordable health care, and to food, housing, child care, education, and a good job; all of which contribute to health.

Williamson correctly points out that though our founders established a government “of, for, and by the people”, what we now have is a government of, for, and by corporations — the very same corporations that essentially control both political parties and status quo politicians.

Marianne Williamson is on the ballot in 40 states (including Oregon) and if she gets 15% of the primary vote in any of those states she will earn delegates and be able to speak to the nation at the Democratic National Convention in August. Her message and policy proposals can infuse into the fall campaign, the critical issues that both Trump and Biden should be debating.

Giving Marianne Williamson this forum — that she has so far been denied —will serve the overall policy debate, other candidates, and the elected leaders who need to hear what she has to say.

Voting for Marianne Williamson in the primary election is not a vote that benefits Trump. It is a vote for a saner system and brighter future. And importantly, it is a vote for democracy.

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