5/24/2019

My dear Friend and president, DJT,

https://www.newscientist.com/article/2196673-students-join-massive-global-strike-against-climate-change/

            Do you think the times are a-changin'? I do! Those 1.4 million kids in 1400 cities in 110 countries walking out of class today are demanding action on climate change and their parents are starting to pay attention. I was excited to read that reps from 21 Fortune 500 companies lobbied in DC yesterday for a carbon tax. Isn't that great? A carbon tax is a lot like a tariff so I think you'd be able to sell it to your fans. Please consider joining the movement.

            Speaking of tariffs, are you making any progress with the Chinese? I am worried about our soybean and hog farmers after reading Patricia Cohen's piece in the NYT today. Did you know that every time you write a nasty tweet about China the price of soybeans goes down and it costs Farmer Goplin of WI $40,000? Farmer Overman in NC may not plant this year because it costs her about $10.35 to grow them and the price these days is about $8. Every farmer will tell you that they would prefer a high price on a free market to the federal handouts that you talked about yesterday. Fingers crossed they will get that soon.

            Could we be heading for a disaster? The world population is growing so we will keep needing more and more food. The climate is changing so growing that food is becoming more and more difficult. And yet, right now we have an oversupply of grain in the world so farmers are going out of business in the US and India and probably everywhere else. Sometime soon we are going to need every inch of ag land we can find. Have you talked with GEP about this?

            I hope that after you and JRP talked about Ukraine yesterday, you spent some time figuring out how to help Zahn Corner Middle School.

            Have a great trip to Japan. I look forward to reading all about it!!!