Will Free Republic survive? Not without your support.

Free Republic ^ | 06/15/2025 | BipolarBob

[BipolarBob]

We either go bankrupt or we go to subscription only or we need to get busy today.

[Arlis]

I support monthly (and have for years) at $30/mo.

I’m afraid if FR goes subscription it would go to $100/mo. and then die from lack of subscriptions.......

[rellic]

I’ve been reading FR since I took up residence in Hawaii 24 years ago.
I was banned twice for reasons unknown, and no explanation given. I’ll probably get banned again, having admitted to being banned.
I also comment on a site known as the “Hill”, they at least give “timeouts” and an explanation for that timeout, so you can adjust to their particular sensitivities.
Giving you a second chance.
Free Republic doesn’t do that. So why risk donating long term when what seems to be arbitrary punishment with no explanation can occur any time some Moderator gets a burr in their shoe?
I still donate, but do it episodically. so as to not provide a pattern.
I will continue to read Free Republic and I would like to see you continue publishing your choice of material.

signed FR name “Rellic”.

[Fledermaus]

Lots of them need to go. Main reason I quit giving.

[Navy Patriot]

How about people intolerant of others?

No problem, Zeepers can post their guiding principles on the Ukrainian owned and hosted website Вільна Республіка.

Or the Dutch?

The Dutch can discuss their issues on the Dutch owned and hosted website Gratis Reublic.

[Fledermaus]

I don’t mind those . No different than watching a Fox News show. They report what the crazy left writes to expose and criticize and discuss.

[Dilbert San Diego]

I agree that’s a concern.

It would be good for all of us to know. How much does it cost to operate Free Republic. What donation level is needed to break even. Do the Robinsons pay themselves salaries from this site? Is it someone’s forty plus hour a week job to operate this site? Are there salaried employees who are monitors of the site? These are all questions that potential donors may ask.

[PeterPrinciple]

https://freerepublic.com/donate/budget

full disclosure, you just have to look...................

[Fledermaus]

Thanks. Made me laugh.

[Dilbert San Diego]

Thanks, I didn’t know this information was readily available.

[Jim Robinson]

I’d rather keep FR a noncommercial site if we can. I think that if we started taking subscriptions or advertisements or anything like that it would change the entire nature of the site. I like it that we’re a large group of concerned citizens joined together in this eternal fight for God, family, country, freedom. Thanks.

[FamiliarFace]

There are some FR blog pimpers that post exclusively to their own website. They rely on FR eyeballs to drive hits to their sites. Some of them don’t even participate in back and forth discussions on the threads they post. One in particular doesn’t post at all except to get clicks. I think those type of FReepers should be donating a lot. Maybe they do. I hope so.

[ransomnote]

Welp, the Biden Regime crushed many businesses and then the vax crushed the ability to continue working for others....

[ransomnote]

In the General/Chat forum, on a thread titled Will Free Republic survive? Not without your support., Dan in Wichita wrote:

I’d prefer the subscription option as well. With it, FR has a better chance of surviving, with the added benefit it will rid us of many of the trolls posting here.

Trolls have subscriptions, too.

Having subscriptions would make FR more vulnerable financially. I recall discovering that when my elderly neighbor hit hard times, he stopped his subscriptions and club dues because he never knew month to month whether he would have the funds, so he canceled them. He didn't want to cancel/resume/cancel etc. He actually began heating his little house by heating a metal cauldron on the stove (????).

[BipolarBob]

It worked for me this morning.

[ransomnote]

 

In the General/Chat forum, on a thread titled Will Free Republic survive? Not without your support., Dilbert San Diego wrote:

Dilbert San Diego wrote: There was a thread recently on this subject.

ransomnote: Free Republic takes flak whenever we're over the target. We also have endured the gutting of our economy via the Plandemic lockdowns. In my town, many businesses folded and did not return. Why not advocate monthly donation signup. That would reduce 'raw funding' each month.

Dilbert San Diego wrote: A few people said they would never give money to Free Republic, because the tone of this site has really gone downhill. There’s a lot of negativity and bizarre stuff on the site. There’s a lot of personal attacks and criticisms of other posters, which hardly will attract new donors. There are purist conservatives with whom it’s impossible to have a conversation.

ransomnote: Some of those saying we should not fund FR because of x, y, or z are sincere, and some are paid trolls trying to shut down FR.

Dilbert San Diego wrote: Why is there such a desire not to have advertisers on Free Republic? Allowing for ads would certainly help pay the bills.

ransomnote: If FR accepted avertisers, those advertisers would cut off all funds over night during the Plandemic because we spoke of matters forbidden EVERYWHERE else. Advertisers control you by stripping funds to force compliance.

Dilbert San Diego wrote: Personally, I’d love to see financial statements on this site. How much does it cost to operate this site, and how much when donations are received? How much do the Robinsons personally contribute to keep this site going?

ransomnote: They give their blood sweat and tears for years and instead of requiring payment, they ask for donations. I think that's more than enough.

Dilbert San Diego wrote: If I had a vote, I would vote for a subscription, only site. There would be fewer participants that way, but hopefully, the quality of the discourse would improve, if people actually had money on the line.

ransomnote: Trolls have subscriptions too. Paid trolls wouldn't be paying for the subscriptions themselves.

Dilbert San Diego wrote: There would be far fewer bizarre and personal insult type comments, if we all had to pay to belong to this site.

ransomnote: Paid trolls are attacking FR with bizarre insult type comments and they would just get subscriptions. 

Dilbert San Diego wrote: What I don’t know is what’s and how many subscribers , at what fee level , would be needed to keep this site going.

ransomnote: I don't understand why you think it desirable to reduce contributers with subscription fees while hoping that paid trolls would act better. Sure that's my interpretation of 'fall-out' only, and not what you are directly asking for. But those would be some of the impacts. 

[ransomnote]

You can sign up for regular FR donations. It's free and easy.

Monthly Donors · Dollar-a-Day Donors · 300 Club Donors

Increasng the number of people who specify montly or other automatic payments or lump sums would reduce the remaining need for 'raw donations.'

[Navy Patriot]

Thanks. Made me laugh.

You have a good sense of humor.

Of course, I do not tag my sarcasm.

In fact, Zeepers and Foreigners believe they are superior to Free Republic's owner and Legacy Supporters and participants, and they don't forget it for a minute.

You WILL parrot their policy, and disinformation, read every link they post and then you WILL qualify every post you make.

They own Free Republic, and they own you, and you need to know that and show the proper respect.

Interestingly, none of these Zeepers and Foreigners can get a "Free Republic" built and online in their $hithole Foreign Countries, East or West.

[BipolarBob]

But not the Irish!

[Magnum44]

I guess youre tolerant of Trump still providing support to Ukraine…

[ransomnote]

In the General/Chat forum, on a thread titled Will Free Republic survive? Not without your support., Boundless wrote:

Suggest:
free to read
two subscription levels:
$: can Post Reply
$$: can Post Article

While that sounds like a reasonable idea, it would reduce participation so each person who donates would essentially owe more than they do when we have open donations.

I hate to think of the content we'd miss when those on fixed incomes feel they can't post or can only post replies.

Everyone who would otherwise subscribe can sign up for regular FR donations. It's free and easy.

Monthly Donors · Dollar-a-Day Donors · 300 Club Donors

Increasng the number of people who specify montly or other automatic payments or lump sums would reduce the remaining need for 'raw donations.'