Posted on 11/28/2001 7:31:29 PM PST by Jim Robinson
Free Republic has had one helluva run over the last five years or so. We helped impeach one president and helped get another into office. We've been active in demonstrations and protests in nearly every city across the nation. We've participated in conventions, petition drives, activism campaigns and projects for dozens of conservative causes.
We've grown from a tiny web site with a few hundred posters and readers from the time of inception in 1996, to one with tens of thousands of participants today. Along the way we've made lots of great friends and, unfortunately, also made lots of bitter enemies.
We've grown from a small web site that I could manage myself on a part-time basis to a huge monster that has totally consumed all of my time and resources plus nearly all of John's time, plus the time and resources of many dedicated FReepers who volunteer or contribute large amounts of their own time and money.
The site is now consuming all of a 10 mbps dedicated line with two servers and we're still growing, and it consumes large amounts of money to keep all this running. In the early years, it only took a few thousand dollars per month to keep Free Republic on the air, but it is now costing over $20,000 per month to cover all expenses.
The major costs include approximately $8,000 per month for bandwidth, 3,000 for systems management and programming services, 7,000 for management, operating and administrative services, plus two or three thousand per month for miscellaneous office expenses, telephone, communications, repairs & maintenance, travel & lodging, postage, rentals, insurance, legal fees, accounting fees, etc., etc.
We anticipate a reduction in bandwidth costs next year as we renegotiate our contract (the market price for bandwidth has fallen recently), however, that will be more than offset by an expected increase in costs of our legal expenses. As most of you know, our pro bono attorney has left us and we've hired a new attorney to continue with our case, plus we have the suit against eschoir to pay for. My projections are that our regular monthly expenses for next year will be running in the neighborhood of $22,000 per month, or approximately $264,000 total for the year. This means we will need to raise approximately $66,000 per quarter.
Talking about making enemies, we've got several ex-FReepers and other detractors who are claiming on their anti-freeper web sites that I am ripping off the donors and that Free Republic is a fraud. Now, Free Republic is what it is, and it is definitely not a fraud. It is a conservative news discussion forum that encourages participation in politics and activism projects. It is not being billed as anything else. We are not selling or promising anything. And I am being up front about our operating costs. The costs of running Free Republic are what I've stated above and they are necessary to keep FR on the air. I do not have the financial wherewithal to operate this site without your help. If the majority of the FReepers feel that these costs are out of line or too much to bear or that Free Republic is no longer wanted or needed, then we will either cut it back or shut it down or do something altogether different.
I've also been criticized about not making our financials public. Well, the reason I do not want to do this is that I have been sued, both personally and as Free Republic, LLC. The people suing us want to bankrupt us and shut us down. They subpoenaed our financial records, but we refused to turn them over. The judge agreed that the plaintiffs have no right to the information, thus I have no intention of making any more of it public than I absolutely have to, until this lawsuit is resolved. You all know the amounts of money we raise if you follow the fundraising threads. It is all above board and out in the open. The totals posted by BadJoe are usually pretty close to the actual cash received and the amounts expended are pretty close to the amounts projected. No one is getting rich here and no one is being ripped off. The funds raised are being used for the purposes stated, and that is keeping this website on the air and that's it. Nothing fraudulent about it. Those who want to help fund us freely do so with nothing expected in return. Those who do not want to contribute do not have to.
There was a thread running this morning where people were making all kinds of accusations about Free Republic "hiding the truth" or whatever. These accusations are being made by Chuck Allan and others and fall along the same line with the accusations being made by some of the earlier banees or AFers including Mojo, Inspector Harry Callahan, Arator, keep U.S. Sovereign, TKEman and others. Some of these people are existing FReepers and some are banned. I am going to reinstate Mojo, Inspector Harry Callahan and Arator's accounts so they can join Chuck Allan, TKEman, K.U.S.S. and whomever else wants to get involved, and I invite them to come onto this thread and make their accusations public. As long as they do not go onto other threads and make a nuisance of themselves, I will let them have their say.
Like I said above, if it is time for Free Republic to go away so be it. Those who want to keep it going speak up. Those who want it to go away, tell us why. But if those who want it to be gone lose out in the debate, then I'd say they should just go away themselves, or, in the very least, shut up and quit whining about it.
Thanks,
Jim
Poof!
Which is also the point on having available some simple public info on the members. Peer pressure works.
And secrecy sucks.
Not to worry; as you know I can't see anything after Leno is on which is why I didn't see this post either.
BRL seems to have lost his voice? "Isle of Mann" it is. Damn chart, wish I had a scanner.
Please supply some photos of your next naked romp through the forum. We can then decide for ourselves if you should be arrested.
This all depends on how much you guys want to pocket for running it. You can always sell it.
Careful you girls [rolling on the floor laughing my arse off] don't run one another down in the parking lot.
Vamoose, Howlin busted you up front. Calvarys? Oh, our tummies.
Besides, my pics never seem to turn out right...they always end up *overexposed (wink-wink).
Bwahahahaha. He didn't get that "+" for nothing, you know.
'pon my sol, have you no marsy?
Have you been reading Daus' "3 Hours to be a Wit" or have you been copying those riotous aunties? Have you noticed the absence of BRL and Co? Where do those little fellers go when they get nervous and shy? You'd think Calvarys and A dutiful daughter would have more gumption than the maggot at least.
Majority consensus does not equate to correctness. It may make all the "me-tooers" feel really good. But, that's all.
It is the arrogance and snide attitude (although you boys call it conviction and principle) that assures that you boys will get so many flames.
The assertiveness and tenacity I exercise when defending my positions and criticising those of others is not arrogance. The attacks directed at me personally, rather than at my positions, are the result of immaturity, insecurity, and envy.
YOU guys just can't stand the fact that people have read the THOUSANDS of words posted by your stripe, and we JUST DO NOT AGREE....WE BELIEVE that YOU are wrong.
Can't stand the fact? Like we get all red-faced and stomp our feet? Haha.
I believe you are willfully ignorant as are most people. I understand that it is human nature to avoid pain and unpleasantries which would explain your turning a blind eye in the face of mountains of evidence.
I couldn't help but notice that you addressed nothing I challenged you on in #3235.
...one thing I have noticed about you third party folk is that you love to write long, long, long, defenses...
Too bad. I know you're in a hurry to get back on over to the mutual admiration thread where everyone agrees with each other. One thing I've noticed about you incumbent party types is your evasiveness and the great lengths you will go to silence those who challenge you.
We...do not hold to the...We-Live-In-A-Police-State mentality.
Bush law chief (Ashcroft) tried to suspend habeas corpus. If that doesn't smack of police-statism I don't know what does. You tell me. Again, I ask you, do you give Bush and Ashcroft a pass because they're Republicans? Where's the outrage in the GOP? No Libertarian candidate would ever support such a thing. He would be shunned by fellow Libertarians and probably banished. Furthermore, no Libertarian would just blow it off and make excuses because he's one of our own.
...the only one in your little tent that keeps it short is OWK...
Despite OWK's briefly worded challenges to others to defend their positions he is personally attacked and ridiculed. Often accused of floating straw men with perfectly legitimate questions usually requiring a simple yes or no. He challenges others to think and to defend their positions and instead he is resented for it. A sure sign that somebody is insecure with their own beliefs is their evasion of the challenge and the subsequent lashing out at the one who posed it.
If that ever becomes the tagline of FR it will truely be a dark day in America. I have faith that most FReepers do not share your sentiment.
I'll always go against the grain about popular commentary as my point of view is enhanced by concept as opposed to inuendo. And for some time now, I see folks on FR only interested in some social glee club on the internet that takes sides with Republicans and admonishes those of more capable political party affiliations.
I don't like the attacks at all. It is apparent that you do.
What a splendid definition of 'iconoclast'!
Look, ace. There are plenty of smart people on here who will ignore you because arguing about your assertions is such a waste of time. Me, not being in that particular group, feel the need to point it out.
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