I want to thank you for the fantastic article you wrote about Ron Paul in the ISR (January–February, 2008). I, like many others, had been so distraught by the prospect of seeing any of the other candidates in office that Paul’s anti-war rhetoric and opposition to the Federal Reserve Bank was music to my ears… until I did a bit more reading about his actual stance on other policies. Your article prompted me to do even more research, and I have you to thank for prompting me to discover the new information I did. Only one problem remains now, though: the selection of candidates is so depressing that I don’t know how I could possibly choose any one of them when voting time comes around. Trust me, I’m not one who believes our facade of democracy in this country would actually allow its citizens to freely elect their president, but I still participate in the process for one silly reason: to defend myself against those who claim that one “doesn’t have the right to a political opinion unless they’ve voted.”

Anyways, I’m sure you’re very busy and receive plenty of emails. I just felt a serious desire to say “thank you” for the time you took to research Mr. Paul, and for the way you effectively exposed his short-sighted ideals for exactly what they are.

Neil Jarman