We are deeply saddened to announce the passing of Robert Wenzel. Robert passed away peacefully in his sleep on May 25th, 2021 in San Francisco, CA. He was 63.
Robert was buried in a private ceremony for family and close friends at Tulocay Cemetery in Napa, CA on June 4th, 2021.
In keeping with Robert's wishes, we plan on keeping both EconomicPolicyJournal.com and TargetLiberty.com live on the web as archives of Robert's work.
We'd like to thank all of the readers of both EconomicPolicyJournal.com and TargetLiberty.com for their support of Robert's work over the years.
We'd further like to thank all of those individuals who have created touching tributes to Robert in recent days.
He loved sharing and debating his ideas and opinions with you and know he would want you to carry the torch of liberty forward into the future.
--The Family of Robert Wenzel
This was the very first site I would check every morning and many more times throughout the day. I will miss Robert's posts.
ReplyDeleteThe same
Delete4 times every day. Wow this hurts!
DeleteRobert and I met in DC in late 2016, I think probably right after the 2016 election. It was unseasonably warm as I remember. We went to the old post office, the one renovated by DJT, for drinks and to practice some marketing skills. He had very good game, if you know what I mean. A man’s man. Damn! I will miss talking to him about current events and trends.
DeleteThis was the very first site I would check every morning and many more times throughout the day. I will miss Robert's posts.
ReplyDeleteSorry for the loss, he will be missed.
ReplyDeleteRIP
ReplyDeletehttps://rumble.com/vi0mp7-remembering-robert-wenzel-with-murray-sabrin-walter-block-michael-r.-edelst.html
So sorry to hear about this. Robert was a really interesting guy and I checked these sites every day.
ReplyDeleteRequiescat in pace. We will miss Robert.
ReplyDeleteRIP sir you will be sorely missed in the dwindling world of liberty.
ReplyDeleteRobert was a pugnacious dude with an equally sarcastic sense of humor, culminating in a joie de vivre!
ReplyDeleteHis voice and pugnaciousness reminded me of my uncles from Boston. I have missed Robert.
This was the first site I went to in the mornings I learned so much from Robert. I am sorry I never got to meet him in person.
ReplyDeleteFirst site I always check each morning; his insight is without match. He'll be missed dearly!
ReplyDeleteJust unbelievable. No words. Robert became a part of our lives. I would check his sites several times a day. Life is not fair.
ReplyDeleteRequiem aeternam dona ei, Domine, et lux perpetua luceat ei. Requiescat in pace.
ReplyDeleteA friend sent me an article about Tom Brady’s rookie card selling for a new record, and the first thing that popped into my head was Robert’s words, “Thank you Federal Reserve.”
ReplyDeleteSo many things to say about Bob, he never backed down, but had an open mind, if you were talking freedom. I’m grateful I was able to get to know him as much as I did. Brilliant champion of Liberty.
Thank you Robert.
I hope we who read and followed you can at least attempt to carry the torch you championed.
I have, for over a decade, checked Robert's sites throughout the day. I've greatly appreciated his insights and am broken-hearted that he has moved on from this life.
ReplyDeleteMy condolences to his family and other loved ones.
In memory of Robert Wenzel, the Titan of San Francisco. https://thejewishlibertarian.com/2021/06/04/in-memory-of-robert-wenzel-the-titan-of-san-francisco/
ReplyDeleteCondolences to the family and thank you to Robert Wenzel for providing this site and EPJ as resources to all of us freedom minded people. It was a great service and of great value to many.
ReplyDeleteThe loss of Robert Wenzel was shocking and saddening. He's been among the most influential figures in my life, and yet I never met him in person.
ReplyDeleteSince finding EPJ around 2009, I became an addicted regular reader. I was impressed by RW's understanding of Austrian School Business Cycle Theory and his ability to fuse that knowledge with economic data to make accurate predictions. We live in a world where expert after expert is trotted out before the media. These experts are almost always comically and fantastically wrong about what is happening and what will happen in the world. Here, however, was the opposite. In another clear contrast to our world of empty headed experts, RW was a principled man that stuck to his beliefs regardless of their popularity. He had confidence and conviction, and was a visibly incredibly hard worker. That hard work is why so many of us knew immediately that was something was amiss when our updates from EPJ and TL weren't coming on that fateful day.
Oh, and he was fun! So fun! Always willing to stick his face out (literally these days) to confront a "mini-Mao", as he called them, and then post the story on EPJ or TL.
I started corresponding with Robert over emails sometime around 2017. As the pandemic started to careen into a mad circus, I noted to him that I had tried my hand at writing before and I wanted to do some more. Robert was so supportive. He read my work and offered critiques, and he always encouraged me to do more. I never asked for him to publish anything I wrote, but he offered on several occasions. It was very thrilling for me to have RW as a fan. I would like to list the works he published, so that I have them here for posterity.
The Only Question that Matters
https://www.targetliberty.com/2021/03/the-only-question-that-matters.html
My Most Fulfilling Thanksgiving
https://www.targetliberty.com/2020/11/my-most-fulfilling-thanksgiving.html
A Response to Carl Bergstrom
https://www.targetliberty.com/2020/07/a-response-to-carl-bergstrom-and-his.html
How to Survive Corporate Idiocy (published anonymously per my original request)
https://www.economicpolicyjournal.com/2020/06/how-to-survive-corporate-idiocy-in-age.html
The Science of Social Distancing
https://www.targetliberty.com/2020/06/the-science-of-social-distancing-never.html
What Do Lies Look Like in the Virginia Media
https://www.targetliberty.com/2020/05/what-do-lies-look-like-in-virginia-media.html
A Letter to My Children's School
https://www.targetliberty.com/2020/05/a-letter-to-my-childrens-school.html
In addition to these articles are countless emails I exchanged with health department officials and school administrators, who I fought for months on the subject of masking my five year old daughter. Robert Wenzel was bcc'd on every one of those emails and he often wrote me offering advice for what to ask. Most importantly, he frequently replied simply offering encouragement to keep up the fight.
I'll miss Robert a ton. I hope I can find a way to use what I have learned from him to do some good in this world.
In mourning,
David Burns
David - any chance you have a blog? I'd definitely read it if so. Heck, I wonder if we could all start a blog of "Robert Wenzel commenters" (at least the ones who were fans of his). Like you, I've emailed Bob and he published some of my questions. I felt like I had a good sense of what he would find interesting and decide to publish but I was never sure what his response would be. I always appreciated his perspective on things and I'm reminded he's gone every day when I have the inclination to refresh EPJ and TL (I've read his work for probably just over a decade). I would have loved to have heard his take on these Fauci emails. I wonder if he would've thought they were taking him down.
DeleteWhile I never met him, I did email him a bunch of times through the years and, fwiw, he felt like a friend.
To the Wenzel family, my deepest condolences.
I'd like to know if you (David) have a blog as well. I've shared at least one of your articles to my FB page and really enjoy your writing.
DeleteI like your idea Anon. A lot of us have a absorbed so much of Bob's thought over the years that he lives on in a small way through us. This is kinda what I was attempting though the invite to my FB page Anti-State below. I've shared quite a few articles from here and EPJ. Last week I wrote a heartfelt obituary through blurry eyes and followed up with a couple more shares that mention Robert and how his writing continues to bounce around in my head. Thinking of starting a website to step things up in his honor. If you're curious, here's a blog I started a while back but kind of abandoned https://liberty2all.wordpress.com/
Regarding the other prolific commenters, here's what I've found so far.
Joshua Bennet - http://patriotslament.com/
http://statebusters.com/ is someone from here, but I forget who, maybe Donxon?
https://thejewishlibertarian.com/ - Rafi
Sui Juris made great comments as well. I'm hoping he has some online presence to share with us.
Shane
P.S. There was an article about a month back regarding a strategy to push back against the woke mob. Bob said to send him an email if you'd like more details. If anyone received this information, please forward it to me.
I only knew Robert through his sites EPJ, TL and his investment newsletter. I will miss checking those sites daily for new posts, seeing Robert's interactions with commenters and receiving great market insights and investment recommendations from his newsletter. My condolences to his family and close friends for their loss.
ReplyDeleteIn a world that seems crowded with unreasonable people, Robert was a welcome relief. His work will remain so. Thankyou Robert. My condolences to his family.
ReplyDeleteEvery day morning and lunch since EPJ's inception...too soon to lose him. I'm still in the grieving process. RIP and prayers to his family.
ReplyDeleteLosing Bob is like losing a limb. I keep checking to see where it’s gone. I am in a very dark place without him. He was my dear friend:
ReplyDeleteRobert was a great man. A man of intelligence & basic human decency & civility which is a very rare commodity these days. I too share with everyone my grief at his death and I am greatful that our Lord Jesus has overcome death for Robert & all of us. Amen!
ReplyDeleteI had intentionally been avoiding EPJ and TL because both sites represented a sense of loss and sadness; heartbreak. What had once been a great source of comfort, learning, expression, and humor had now been turned to nothing but sadness.
ReplyDeleteWho needs that?
But, for some reason, I decided to take a look at the websites on Sunday evening. And, much to my surprise and joy, there was a tribute page to Bob.
Many, many thanks to Bob’s family. You are truly wonderful people.
I found the Economic Policy Journal because Robert Murphy’s blog had a link to EPJ. This was probably around 2010/2011. Slowly but surely, I started visiting EPJ more and more.
In 2011, I think Bob was living on the East Coast. I emailed him and asked him to grab drinks when he visited the West Coast. He said that he would be happy to do that.
And, sure enough, when Bob visited, we had drinks in Oakland.
Later, Bob moved to the Bay Area. Soon after his arrival, he started a group that he said was only for true, hardcore Libertarians: Circle Rothbard.
I was truly honored that he invited me to join.
It was a pleasure to attend those meetings and to meet other fantastic supporters of liberty. I’ve learned so much from so many of them.
I’ve also learned so much from both the posters and the commenters at both EPJ and TL.
As David B. wrote, Bob was a tremendous source of encouragement for my writing. Tremendous.
There were no two sites that I checked more than EPJ and TL.
I asked a couple of mutual friends if they had any sites they were using as replacements. But, I knew the real answer even before I asked the question.
I learned from Bob because the man was brilliant in things regarding Austrian Economics and Libertarianism.
I respected Bob because he was unwavering in his commitment to economic truth and freedom. He was unwavering in his battle against the state. I fondly remember meeting with Bob and two other friends at Jack London Square in March 2020. It was raining, but we were able to find enough shelter to discuss Covid and the statist propaganda surrounding it. Bob was one of the first and loudest and most consistent critics. As time moves on, he will be proven more and more correct.
I miss Bob because he was my friend. A true brother-in-arms.
Rest In Peace, Robert Wenzel. Rest In Peace, my friend.
Victor Ward
Huge loss. My condolences to the family. I will miss his outlook.
ReplyDeleteI would just like to say ditto to all the comments above. I will miss the commenters as much as the Robert and his blogs. Even you, Hansen. And what the hell am I supposed to do with my portfolio now?
ReplyDeleteI’ve been following Bob’s webpages for years and finally signed up for the Daily Alert this last March after I felt I really could trust his Econ knowledge. I LOVED the Alert. It was filled with insight, worth the price even if not an investor. I’m sticking with his picks at least until the end of summer, remembering the “ruling reason” for doing so. He seemed to believe the gold and silver positions would really move sooner rather than later. Also got to pay attention if the Fed starts slowing down, which he believed would crash the markets. I was really looking forward to Bob’s analysis shining through in this environment. Thank you Bob for the education, and Rest In Peace.
DeletePossibly the first time I've commented here, but have read both sites frequently for over a decade. I looked to these pages for guidance in navigating an increasingly tyrannical world. I now feel a bit rudderless. Sure there are others in the austro-libertarian world that understand and convey the ideas with skill, but none of them (IMO) apply the theory to real life the way Robert did. Since I found out about his death, nearly every day I realize that I have some pertinent knowledge in my head because of Robert Wenzel. I will also miss (some of) the commenters, but am hoping we can stick together somehow. Here's my FB page. Send me an IM.
ReplyDeletehttps://www.facebook.com/Anti-State-275446599142584
News of Robert's passing shook me. He left us way too soon. My condolences to his family.
ReplyDeleteUpon reading all these great comments, I see how many lives Bob touched. In addition to his vast knowledge & passion for liberty, he had a way of making everyone feel important. I am honored to have called him a friend. So I decided to publish some of my experiences with him. Bob would usually post everything I sent him, which I appreciated. May his soul and all the souls of the faithfully departed, through the mercy of God rest in peace, Amen.
ReplyDeleteCondolances to his family.
R.I.P. Robert Wenzel, The Austrian Everyman
http://libertyfightnews.blogspot.com/2021/06/rip-robert-wenzel-austrian-everyman.html
I've been deeply saddened by the death of Robert. I've been reading his blog for years, and my heart feels heavy every time I recall that he will not make another post. I love to see the outpouring here of how he touched so many lives. RIP
ReplyDelete"In keeping with Robert's wishes, we plan on keeping both EconomicPolicyJournal.com and TargetLiberty.com live on the web as archives of Robert's work."
ReplyDeleteThank you so much to the Wenzel family for this. It is very much appreciated!
Like others, I was stunned at hearing the sad news of RW's passing. I first encountered RJ in the pages of now-defunct Liberty Magazine, in the late 90s and early 2000s.
ReplyDeleteSince discovering his two web sites, they became a daily, early-morning mainstay; I truly have felt somewhat rudderless now that these sites are in suspended animation.
I learned so much from his writings and videos...and certain phrases or words will always remind me of RW: Mini-Maos...coprolite...second-hand dealer in ideas... Even the way he'd write "Got that?" ... lol.
He always said he'd stay in San Francisco and California until the end, and would "turn out the lights" when it closed. Well, he didn't quite make it that long, but as a night-watchman of liberty, he was stellar.
Bravo, sir. Rest in peace.
--David Afton.
I also loved the phrases: "urban primitives" and "hug your gold coins"
DeleteHow about "LBJ's grandkids"?
DeleteYes!
DeleteI just discovered this page. How tragic that its publisher just passed! My condolences to his loved ones. I hope others will maintain this important mission.
ReplyDeleteI've followed RW's EPJ blog for well over ten years and checked EPJ (and later TargetLiberty when he split it off) on a daily basis to get a quick sense of what was going on in the world that was relevant to liberty and economics. His daily alert for subscribers was also invaluable for keeping a pulse on the markets. The past few weeks without RW have certainly felt different and confusing.
ReplyDeleteI'm not sure there is any other site that offered what RW did. Reason Magazine is a mixed bag. Mises Wire is a bit too involved and time consuming with its economic deep dives. And LewRockwell has a mix of contributors that seem to regularly go down rabbit holes. RW had a real knack for focusing on the big picture things that mattered.
If anyone knows of alternatives to help us all keep grounded on the things that matter, please do share. Especially in these concerning times, RW was truly a beacon of clarity for those passionate about liberty.
Hi everyone, I have decided to start a regular blog. As readers of EPJ and TL, you will find many of Bob's influences as he was a big influence on my way of thinking, which are blended into my approach of living free.
ReplyDeleteI'm on substack, with no paid subscription as of now.
livebetternow.substack.com
My first post will go live tomorrow at 6am.
I hope to see you all there. This is a great community.
Regards,
David Burns
Good luck in your endeavor. I'll be sure to check it out.
DeleteI'm so sorry to find that Bob is gone. I've enjoyed his writing on this and EPJ for years, and found him engaging and approachable. May Bob's memory be a blessing.
ReplyDeleteI still have the inclination to want to refresh TL and EPJ. I would've loved to have heard RW's opinions on current events (particularly on inflation and vaccines).
ReplyDeleteI keep having the same impulse! More than a month on and my fingers still want to type in target or econo... and then I catch myself and remember. I don't suspect we'll find a replacement that has RW's insight into money creation and other matters, but if someone finds something close please let us know where to go. Thanks.
DeleteI keep coming here a month after Bob's death with the mistaken thought that something new will have appeared. I miss his insights. RIP.
ReplyDeleteIt pains me to not be able to read what Bob would have to say on current events.
DeleteJust want to post here to say that Robert may be gone but he's definitely not forgotten. I miss his insights.
ReplyDeleteThe cause for freedom has suffered a great loss. R.I.P Robert Wenzel (Posted by Joe Zychik)
ReplyDelete