A Satisfied Customer
This is an actual message I got from a reader of this blog. I should probably mention that when I asked him for permission to reprint it, he admitted he had been drunk when he wrote it. But still.
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Message: Bob,
I just wanted to acknowledge you for your contributions to my understanding of economics.
I turned off the TV a few years ago in my little saddle making shop and turned on the interweb. The change in my perspective during that time could not have been more profound if I had been taking acid.
Thanks to Mises, reason, Cato, the I.J. and other organizations, my world is a much different place and much more understandable. You and others have given me some tools that I do use to better my life and subtly influence others in a positive direction. My brilliant teenage daughter is now building her economic understanding on a solid foundation of Missean reasoning. This is having a profound impact on her schooling, her friends, and her world view about very important issues.
After listening to another of your lectures, I had to stop to find your address so that I could praise you for your outstanding contribution. An outstanding teacher must have an empathy with those they instruct, and your personality, wit, and delivery are having a meaningful impact on many more than just my family.Last week a soldier was awarded the Congressional Medal of Honor for jumping on a grenade to save his fellow soldiers. When I heard this I immediately thought of you because I cannot watch a lecture without this feeling of immense pride in your contributions to our country. I salute you, owe you a drink, and will be one of many in the crowd cheering wildly when you are finally feted in a manner worthy of your contributions.
There must be tens of thousands of others like me that you have no knowledge of, but we are out here, and we, like you, can make a big difference in the direction our country and the world travels.
Thanks
My next lecture is up so I gotta go. So much to learn.
Know that before I hit send, I bow….deeply to you.
I can relate to that sentiment, Bob. And I’m not even that drunk yet.
“I love you, man” (hic) “you’re the greatest” (hic)
+1
Obviously, I was having a bit of fun. But really, Bob is a very smart and talented guy. So yeah, I actually agree with the sentiments being put forth (I appreciate what I’ve learned from Bob, too).
As a friend, he’s probably one of the most honest and generous people that I know. As far as personal integrity goes, there are very few people that I know like him.
Sure, I like to push his buttons a bit, and he harps on my use of profanities, but he knows where I’m coming from.
That’s very nice of Paul after all those means things you said about him.
What is crazy is how so many people can get so far from the truth. Do they slip us drugs in our school lunches or what…
The same sentiments are in my mind, but I don’t express my feelings the same way.
Maybe I should start drinking…
Nahh, the booze is part of the problem, why do you think it is the only legal drug. IF it were good for us, it would be illegal like Cannabis and shrooms…
Ah Amsterdam…
Good times. Closest I’d ever get to space travel.
Bob will probably say ‘thank jesus instead’ or something like that
We’re not woprthy! We’re not worthy! All hail Dr. Bob!
Thanks again.
I get drunk on a regular basis but never got the irrational urge to tell Bob what a good job he is doing. I’d like to thank my liver and my ancestors.
You should probably think of it like when you stop taking acid after being whacked for a very long time (not that I would errr know or anything). The Internet is certainly going to bring up a very different generation of kids than what those TV sets delivered.
Tel are you dosing now;)
I think you just said what letter writer already said.
Turning off your television and your radio is the starting point of great change. You make room for truth to enter. The ensuing change can be profound.
I am amazed no one has started a list of which of Bob’s contributions are good analogues to “jumpiing on a grenade…”
Don’t give him any ideas – we don’t need Murphy doing Bruno Mars karaoke.
I notice Kuehn didn’t allow you to use his name, though.