11/14/2022

My Dear Friend & POTUS, JRB,

            The UC System is disrupted today. 48,000 employees are striking because they can’t afford to live in CA. Our Zoom faculty meeting will include a strike acknowledgement, but I’m not sure what else we can do. The system is built around the exploitation of graduate students with the expectation that their servitude is for a few years, after which they earn their ascendency in the hierarchy. The system is flawed & we need to repair it. Please give the strikers a shout-out to let them know that you are routing for them.

            What kind of vibe did you get from your 3-hour meeting with XJ? I’m glad you had Janet Yellen & Antony Blinken at your side to provide moral support. Were you successful at “lowering the temperature of an overheated relationship?” Do you agree with XJ’s assessment that it was “thoroughgoing, frank & constructive?”

I was relieved to hear that XJ shares your concern about VVP’s “reckless rhetoric” about using nukes & wants to do something about climate change. I understand that you continue to want to maintain “strategic ambiguity” over whether we will respond militarily if China attacks Taiwan.

            Thanks for making the effort to meet with XJ. Keeping the lines of communication open is a good thing.

            Have you heard about Thanathorn Juangroongruangkit’s recent speech? He’s a Thai activist who is making some noise about the problematic alliance between Gen Prayuth’s government & the Burmese junta. He’s also critical of his government for cozying up to Beijing diplomatically, economically and militarily & says that China has its “footprint” all over SE Asia. He’d like to see more of an effort to help out the people Burma. I encourage you to reach out to him & get more of his ideas on how to promote democracy in Thailand & Burma.

            BYBS,