1/18/2023

My Dear Friend & POTUS, JRB,

            It’s not raining today! Yeah! We’ve got frost on the green so it’s chilly. The way that winter is supposed to be.

            How was your visit with Dutch Prime Minister Mark Rutte yesterday? I’m surprised that you didn’t ask him to stay for a burger with KMH. Thanks for calling Ghostburger yourself. It’s too bad that Brittany Spaddy got tongue tied when taking your order. Perhaps surprising her with your call was not an ideal way to pull off that particular media stunt.

            How is MR doing? I’m sorry to see that Holland is sending Patriot missiles to Ukraine. The Netherlands had such a tough go of it in WWII, I would hope they know WINTA. According to some the present war started with MH-17, the plane full of Dutch citizens that VVP shot down in 2014 killing all 298 passengers. Some believe that today’s war could have been prevented had VVP been sanctioned at that time.

            I’m sure MR brought up the Inflation Reduction Act (IRA) which the EU calls, “$370bn US green subsidy package .” They’re worried that by monkeying with the market, we will take away their investors. If my dad were alive he’d be begging you not to subsidize, because it leads to a misallocation of resources. I wish I knew more economics so I could advise you on this. I trust that you have several scholars studying how best to use economic incentives to fight climate change.

            Speaking of experts advising leaders, I was happy to see that Joko Widodo, Pres of Indonesia (POI), is telling Myanmar’s junta to follow the example of Indonesia where the military stepped back from controlling all aspects of government decades ago. As the new head of ASEAN, I hope he has some influence.

            Loved seeing Steph Curry at the WH press conference yesterday talking about how basketball brings folks together to spread hope & love. What a wonderful message. Thanks for hosting him.

            BYBS,