9/16/2020

Dear Friend, DJT,

            Please be on the lookout for my $678 estimated tax that I mailed to you yesterday. I hope you will put it to good use, ideally to help some poor people who are worried about being evicted. Do you think we could just do some kind of financial magic and expunge all financial obligations from March 1 to Oct 1? Just pretend those months never happened so renters & landlords & everyone else who couldn’t pay their debts will be forgiven. Don’t you think that’s what Jesus would do? It’s in that prayer said every week at church, “Forgive our debts as we forgive our debtors.” I know I’m being naïve, but I don’t see how we can keep unemployed folks in their homes unless we work some magic.

            I watched your chat with undecided voters on ABC last night. As usual, the media is pointing out all of your “Pinocchios,” so I won’t ask about those. Once I looked it up, I was happy to see that you were right about excess mortality. Isn’t it wonderful that for whatever reason, excess mortality in the USA was 19% below the 5 year average for the week of Aug 23. While I have a hard time explaining why we’d have fewer deaths in 2020 than usual, “Our World Data” reports that is the case. Maybe folks are staying off the road so accidental deaths are way down. Or it could be a reporting error. Whatever the case may be, I look forward to seeing if we can keep that up.

            I hope you enjoy your High Holy Days celebration at the WH by wearing a mask & practicing social distancing. I’m sure your guests will be excited about the Abraham Accords. Even though your “pre-election diplomatic campaign” may be “glossing over awkward realities,” as the Guardian points out, I think bringing people together is a good thing. You should do more of that.

            As you celebrate Rosh Hashanah today, I hope you’ll seek forgiveness from those you have harmed.

            HYITL,