It is difficult to know where to begin this “letter”. For the past several days, most of us have harshly criticized the disgusting display of political correctness and spinelessness at the UNLV. However, I would like to take an opportunity to thank you for everything that you mean to the Austrian and libertarian community, and for everything that you mean to me.
The lectures that you have given are excellent in quality of both content and presentation. You even provide splendid moments of comic relief (paraphrased, “Perhaps we can raise the minimum wage to 1 million dollars an hour, and there will be no additional unemployment.”) Your written papers, too, are splendid to read, with precise clarity of thought and presentation. Your book, Democracy: The God That Failed, was a pleasure to read. Your work has obviously been a great positive influence on Austrians and libertarians.
Furthermore, you have had a profound influence on me. When I first started studying libertarianism, an encouraging e-mail from you caused me to redouble my efforts to familiarize myself with Austrian and libertarian ideas. The lectures you gave at the Mises University (2004) were wonderful. You were easily approachable and sincere in everything you did, as well as thoughtful of any comments given or questions asked: truly, a kind man. Both your scholarly work and personal conduct exudes class.
You are a treasure to Austrians and libertarians everywhere (whether they know it or not), and a great defender of liberty and truth. Your work has touched the lives of thousands, if not millions, of people. I sincerely hope that you are entirely vindicated and compensated for the distress caused.
Sincerely,
David Heinrich
PS: I encourage others — and I am sure there are many of you — who are grateful and appreciative of Prof. Hoppe to express themselves in comments to this entry.
{ 6 comments }
Dear Professor Hoppe,
Your writings have completely changed my worldviews on politics and economics over the past 2 years. Combining ideas from your works with the works of other prominent Austrians, libertarians and anarcho-capitalist philosophers such as Murray Rothbard, I have been able to get numerous people on other Internet community boards to take notice of the ideas behind market anarchism/natural order. One major success in this area is a senior economics undergrad at a Canadian university, whom I was able to get to send a letter to President Harter on your behalf. Another great success (in fact, my greatest personal success so far) of mine has been to get my father to start to reject politics, undoing over 30 years of beliefs in democracy and political action.
Without your ideas and your academic writings, none of this would have been possible and I probably would have never been able to discover the truth about our troubled world if it were not for you. I hope that you can get through this outrageous and unfair trial at your university. It would be a tragedy if this incident were to detract from your current academic research.
Sincerely,
Steven Kane
here here
Dear Professor Hoppe,
I greatly enjoyed the insight you brought me through your articles, as translated to French by François Guillaumat or read in English, and through your audio courses published by the Mises Institute. Your contribution to the coherent expression and conceptualization of Austrian Economics is most valuable.
Whatever may be our personal difference of appreciations, they are just that: personal difference of appreciations.
I am appalled that you may be in trouble just because someone accuses you of having different appreciations from him. I am even more appalled since he chooses to back his claims precisely some appreciations that are both soundly argued and devoid of intrinsic value judgement. By making a reproach to you of stating a truth, he is actually displaying his own guilt due for what he implicitly recognizes as his own failings according to his own evaluation. How pitiful!
I understand that the world is full of sorry sods who can’t handle their own judgement about themselves. These people need therapy. However, I am particularly distressed that bureaucrats could give force to the unsubstantiated complaints of such people, and threaten the carrier of a most honorable professor based on such silly grounds.
For the sake of the reputation of the University, I can but hope these ridiculous charges are dropped as quickly as possible, with an apology from the bureaucrats to you.
Best regards,
–François-René Rideau
Prof. Hoppe,
Unfortunately I lack the eloquence to adequately express my gratitude and appreciation for you and your work. Your influence reaches far beyond what you of any of us know.
I know you will be always remembered as among the most important men to ever grace mankind.
I suppose all that is left to say is, Thank You.
Jonathan C. Eschler, Jr.
Salt Lake City, Utah
Dear Professor Hoppe,
I am eternally greatful for the insights your writings has brought me.
Thank You.
Dear Professor Hoppe,
If I live to be one hundred years old I will never forget your lecture on the private production of security at the Mises Institute this past summer.
The logic, grace, and insight of your aruments have served as the inspiration for my continuing study of Austrian economics since then.
Thank you, and don’t let these punks get you down.
Comments on this entry are closed.