Watched as much of Sunday’s “debate” as I could stand.  Bernie started well but soon both candidates were back to more of the same and I turned them off.

For Bernie to win, and perhaps for any Democrat to win in November, he needs to be big – he needs to lead, and the times have offered up the opportunity.

While viewing myself as progressive, even anti-capitalist, I have no thought-out political philosophy or clear political line of thought. I come from a mother who fled the Nazis and who was an artist of many disciplines but as a single mom couldn’t raise a kid without a “real” job. She worked for 25 years as a clerk in a grocery store.  She was a member of Local 770 in LA, at the time a “business union” in all bad respects of that term. She was on every picket line. I grew up union and working class but, like her, feel split identities. I did not inherit her intellect, nor fully her courage.

Given 40 years of doing photography, and sometimes journalism, I am convinced of one thing: I get along with the segments of society that I work with because, in part, I am like them.

Why am I saying all this?  Simply that is how I listen to the debates. In this time of pandemic and total shit storm in DC I am not interested in Bernie’s views on “Health care for All” and income disparity – I know them.  I am not interested in hearing Biden drone on about he can get stuff down and how well Obama’s bailout worked (I remember how Not Well it worked and how so many who should have paid, did not.  I remember how so many that should not have paid such a price did, and continue to).

I want to hear what YOU are going to do NOW: today, tomorrow and in the weeks coming to put food and supplies back on the shelves. To get hospitals ready for whatever is coming. To distribute nationally the supplies that some states will have in surplus and others will be short of. If those over 70 are confined to their homes, how will they survive? Who will check in on them? What will the country do if armed vigilantes – Trump cultists – begin trying to take power in local areas. What sort of economic protections will be put in place so the working class (poor and otherwise) and those quarantined. Those whose services are shut off. Those that face eviction, loose their homes, or car. And what about the homeless – how can any plan that ignores the public health risks be effective?

As the immediate problem of illness, containment and care are gotten in hand, thinking and planning for the economic effects must be openly debated. (In a sane world there would already be people working on different avenues of recovery.) If, as happened today (16 March), the market continues its decline because of the administration in DC then adults are in danger of losing their belongings and retirement. The young are in danger of losing their futures. Both candidates should be all over this.

Bernie, as a Senator, is in a position to take the lead. Biden is not.  Bernie does not have to retire from the race to do this. He does have to announce that he will now be focused fulltime fon working in the Senate, working with Senators from across the board, bringing in experts to advise, and introducing measures that will effectively deal with the virus, health conditions, hospital needs, and economic issues for both caregivers and victims. He, or another Democratic Senator or expert, needs to be on-air everyday with constructive moves to deal with current and coming developments. He needs to take control of the party, to fill the vacuum, while being inclusive with other members of the Senate. He does not need to ask permission, he is one of the last two Democratic candidates, the only one with real power because he is a Senator.

He needs to run by leading, not campaigning.  He needs to be the leader we all need now: a person calming the country’s fears, bringing us together so that we can all move forward.

As a member of this society I want to hear from that person – be it Bernie or Biden.  Currently the loudest voice is the TV barker selling hate, distrust and disunity.

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