2/19/2025

My Dear Friend & POTUS, DJT,

            How are things in FL? What do you plan to tell the folks at the Future Investment Initiative Institute Priority Summit this evening? I was surprised to see you attending an event that includes investing in “sustainability” as a focus. Have you spoken with the organizer, Richard Attias (RA), about his enthusiasm for ESG? Are you familiar with that acronym? I had to Google it. Their bot says it’s “shorthand for an investing principle that prioritizes environmental issues, social issues, & corporate governance.” RA’s a big proponent. As you know he’s also a big proponent of the House of Saud, although he claims he’s not working for them any more.

            Speaking of Saudi Arabia, why did you exclude the Ukranians & Europeans from your “peace talks” with VVP? That makes no sense to me! If we want opponents to stop fighting, we need both sides to agree to a settlement.

It would also be good to have the neighbors aware of the arrangement so they can be supportive. According to top European Union diplomat Kaja Kallas, “You need the Europeans; you need the Ukrainians. Why are we giving them [Russia] everything they want even before the negotiations have started? It’s appeasement. It has never worked.” You don’t want to be the POTUS who is known for appeasing a Russian dictator, do you? I am all in favor of ending the killing, but you can’t do that by bullying the neighbors.

            I encourage you to consider the power of providing choices when trying to influence others. I learned this technique early in my teaching career from the vice principal. She showed me that when a kid has gotten themselves into a bind, such as starting a fight in the classroom, the teacher can say, “you have a choice, go down to the office now of your own accord or stay. If you stay, I’ll have to take measures to remove you from the room & you will be in a lot more trouble than you are now.” This framing helps the kid think about the consequences & also salvages his pride because he can show his friends that he is making a smart choice & not just doing as he’s told.

Please use this kind of finesse with VVP & Bibi & General Min Aung Hlaing.

I suspect that Thailand, PM Paetongtarn Shinawatra gave the leaders of the Myanmar military’s border guard force this kind of choice to influence them to rescue thousands of hostages from the scam centers in Burma. SoW, please give her a call of congrats for that diplomacy!

Lachlan Brown’s book, Hidden Secrets of Buddhism: How To Live With Maximum Impact & Minimum Ego, might give us some how-tos for cultivating this kind of influence. Would you like to read it & discuss with me?

BYBS,