7/29/2022

My Dear Friend & POTUS, JRB,

            Still no word from you on the executions in Burma. The people there could use some encouragement. According to the Irrawaddy, “Yangon, once a place full of fun, has become wearily familiar with gun attacks and explosions, and has lately become one of the (most) dangerous cities in the world. Now, since the executions, the danger level is even higher.”

            People there are hurting so much that they many are ready to resort to violence. One of the MPs of the National League for Democracy said,” “We are not the water in their palms, we are the shattered pieces of glass in their palms … They can hold it in any way they want. At least, their hands will shed with our blood. But we will find justice for that.” That sounds quite ominous to me. As you reach out to them, please emphasize that WINTA.

            On more positive matters, the CSM reports that “the U.S. economy in 2022 is not the best of times or the worst of times. It’s sailed instead into a weird patch of ocean, roiled by the deep waters of the pandemic and the gales of war.” Isn’t that a wonderful piece of writing? The rest of the article points out that recessions are anomalies & “even if a recession happens, it’s likely to be a shallow one.” That’s a relief.

            I hope you saw Frank Zakaria’s Op Ed in today’s WP where he delineated your successes in passing legislation by governing from the center. He suggests your efforts might reduce the toxicity in Washington. Wow – I might have to reconsider my idea that you are running out of gas.

            BYBS,