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Is Free Republic a Fraud? Is it time for Free Republic to go away?
Free Republic | 11/28/01 | Jim Robinson

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


TOPICS: Activism/Chapters; Announcements; Breaking News
KEYWORDS: bushbabeslist; enviralists; hughhewitt; jimroblist; opuslist; usocanteen; zionist
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To: mercy; WillaJohns; sinkspur; Gracey
. I will pay a lot if you make it a subscription site. Nothing till then. It is a crime if you are not making a profit here and it is an equal crime that any fool can waltz in here and screw the place up at will

So I see.

441 posted on 11/28/2001 9:14:15 PM PST by Howlin
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To: Jim Robinson
Don't pull the plug! FR is the best site on the web. If we all chip in we can keep it going. Thanks for all you've done.
442 posted on 11/28/2001 9:14:22 PM PST by AshleyMontagu
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To: Bob J
Free Republic Network...COMING VERY SOON!

I hope that there will be some sort of effort made at recruiting at the CPAC, which will be likely the largest meeting of cadre type conservatives for at least the next 6 months.

443 posted on 11/28/2001 9:14:32 PM PST by Lucius Cornelius Sulla
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To: PatrioticAmerican
I agree with your sentiments. Keep FR Going strong. Ignore the naysayers, they are sunshine patriots!
444 posted on 11/28/2001 9:14:37 PM PST by Skywalk
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To: Hildy
I can get it. Thank you.
445 posted on 11/28/2001 9:14:48 PM PST by BADJOE
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To: Jim Robinson
Jim, there's no way I could begin to put a dollar amount on what I've received through the years, here at FR, or thank you enough for making it all possible, but whatever is decided it takes to keep FR going, please count me in. In the meantime, a donation will be forthcoming.

Thanks Jim!

446 posted on 11/28/2001 9:14:59 PM PST by theirjustdue
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To: Bob J
BUMP
447 posted on 11/28/2001 9:15:05 PM PST by Licensed-To-Carry
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To: Jim Robinson
I want my...
I want my...
I want my Free Reee Peee

This site must stay, Jim. Yours is the best conservative site on the web. I'm sure I speak for others when I say you are a daily must hit (often five or six times to be honest). Screw the critics. If they can accomplish what you've been able to... then let them. Otherwise, they can take a flyin' you-know-what.

I don't agree with every sentiment on this site, but isn't that the point?

On a personal note, your site has spawned one of the most widely read rants ever to hit the web, which started as a post I left here on FreeRepublic. I knew the power of your site first-hand when my father spamed me with my own words. I have always credited the Bad Republican/Bad American rant's popularity not to my post, but to the amazing draw this site has for conservatives on the web.

Know that your fan base is a mile wide and ten miles deep.

Best,
Bootyist

448 posted on 11/28/2001 9:15:10 PM PST by bootyist-monk
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To: Jim Robinson
In America, most important decisions are made at the kitchen table. It is a warm, safe place where relatives and close friends gather to discuss their individual or mutual concerns. One can discuss freely, with the full knowledge that at the next meeting all that was said will be accepted as sincere opinions for each participant, with no grudges held.

For me, the above "kitchen table" sense is found throughout FR: safe conversation with strangers in a "kitchen table" setting.

Although many FR's are shining examples of "kitchen table" replys, two threads come to mind as FR at it's best: "Word for the Day" and "The Guild."

FR is also a place to ventilate one's emotions -- I gave up reading the op. ed. section in newspapers long ago.

FR is a place to congregate and learn from the articles on a myriad of topics in a short amount of time.

FR gives each of us the opportunity to test an idea amongst our peers.

FR fills the void that "the media" refuses to fill: each of us may stand and deliver, at any time and on any subject.

449 posted on 11/28/2001 9:16:23 PM PST by Graewoulf
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To: sinkspur
I take issue with being a mean SOB. It strikes me that in reality you do not suffer fools gladly. If pointing out the fallacy of pointy-haired fools is mean, then yeah, I guess you are a cold, unforgiving SOB.

I anted up within 5 days of joining this site, and will be sending in another check this month. I guess I will just have to find the means to send in a monthly check.

450 posted on 11/28/2001 9:16:54 PM PST by stylin_geek
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To: redskin; Jim Robinson; John Robinson; Bob J; DoughtyOne; Alamo-Girl; Clinton's a liar; Clarity...
You have to be kidding Jim, You are the Rush Limbaugh of the internet. Huh!!?

Mr Limbaugh should be so lucky [And/or so delusional!] as to even fantasize about being radio's Jim Robinson!

HehHehHehHeh

[God bless you, Jim Robinson -- and keep you ..... Preferably RICH!]

451 posted on 11/28/2001 9:17:01 PM PST by Brian Allen
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To: Jim Robinson
Jim, a compromise between FR being a fee-for-access site and a free site would be the inclusion of "premium forums" within the FR main site. Access could be offered for a very nominal fee such as $3/month (X 7,000 subscribers = $21,000/month).

A variety of "specialized" content and topical forums (e.g., professional/expert legal, medical, law enforcement, military, intelligence, etc.) could be offered and might serve to free up bandwidth on the rest of the existing FR.

The fee-for-access basis of the "premium forums" likely would tend to discourage the participation of disruptors, airheads, windbags, etc. As word of the success and value of the "premium forums" spreads among FReeperdom, a gradual transition to an entirely fee-for-access FR may well take place.

I am confident that several serious FReepers would join me in making a donation/investment in this enhancement to this valuable forum.....

452 posted on 11/28/2001 9:17:20 PM PST by tracer
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To: Silly
I go white every time I read about your threats to Lucianne, your collection of nerotic kitsch art, and your massive illegal gun collection (

LOL!! Gosh, where can I go to find fun stuff like that?

Hey, Jim, all of the above are okay by me even if true.

453 posted on 11/28/2001 9:17:37 PM PST by patriciaruth
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To: Jim Robinson
You do a great job that's really tough.
454 posted on 11/28/2001 9:18:12 PM PST by Silvertip
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To: Bob J; Jim Robinson; Cinnamon Girl; BADJOE
To All:

There have been many well intentioned suggestions about supporting FRT through ad revenue (do we really want this site cluttered up with ads about K cars and Tidybowl anyway?), subscriptions, membership fees etc. At this point, FR cannot do any of these things without violating it's FAIR USE claim in the lawsuit. It's been gone over many times and the only viable way to fund this site is through the individual voluntary donations from it's fans. Taking subscriptions or membership fees would mean excerpting and linking and Jim (and most others) feel this would take away fromt he essential nature of the site. Plus, we'd have to lose ALL the archives.


I have highlighted the portions of this post of Bob J's to let those who don't realize that there is a lawsuit still in appeal that would be jeopardized (further) from being settled in JR's and FR's favor, if we acted like a real profit making business ... which we are NOT

1. WOW. I had no idea how expensive it is to run this site.
I know that the actual costs have been alluded to more than once on the FREEPATHON threads.

2. Hugh Hewitt just said on his show today that most talk show hosts use FR as their resource for info. (They owe you.)

3. HOW ABOUT A PLEDGE DRIVE with gifts like on PBS. "Free Republic" t-shirts, bumperstickers, mugs, umbrellas-- your special gift depending upon the size of the contribution.
We already have or had all (most) of those items in the FR store -- is it Bob J or doughty one or who that had the inventory. The coolest thing I ever saw (wanted/had on my personal wish list) was the FR jacket. All the hints in the world never convinced any of my family that I should have one though and they are Wa-a-a-a-ay over my budget (I think they were $80, or so).

4. Is there any way to cut down on non-fixed expenses?

5. I'm curious to know what percentage of your costs is covered by ads.

The ads you see are not "paid advertising", at all ... they are representative of CONSERVATIVE "personas" -- or like minded persons who don't wear that "label".

6. I don't understand why, if you currently have for-profit status, you would need to justify your budget.
See Bob J's remarks!

7. Until you just mentioned it, I didn't know there were any anti-FR sites.
I've never been to one of them (only went to L.com [not an anti Freeper site, is she?] once ... to see how she had absconded with JR's and therefore FR's format). Had a feeling about "Trixie" before she left FR, and was not a member of her "court" anyway. I don't think that it benefits us to acknowledge in public that they are being watched.

I am not on your or any one else's "case" C G, but these items are largely a part of FR History.

Not only does this person (ME, way below the poverty level in income) keep up with and remember vital pieces of the FR history ... I would be "homeless" online, without FR!

I hereby pledge 5% of every Schipperke that I sell for as long as FR is around -- not a fortune, but I have already had to bow out of a monthly tap on my account. As of tomorrow, I hope that will be about $15.00 on an "old" puppy.

I ALWAYS am terribly guilt ridden at being a "freeloader", in comparison, if nothing else, in this "House of Robinson".

BTW, to whomever it is that refers to "the brothers Robinson", I have never met any of them, but John and Chris are Jim and Sheila's sons and quite young (not that J and S are old).
455 posted on 11/28/2001 9:19:29 PM PST by AKA Elena
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To: Jim Robinson
What IS nerotic kitsch art? Could you bring some to the next FReep?
456 posted on 11/28/2001 9:19:44 PM PST by patriciaruth
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To: Jim Robinson
I'm up for a paid membership/subscription. That way you'd be able to budget easier monthy/quarterly, and we get to continue to Freep/Rant. This site is way to valuable to toss away! We are grateful to you Jim, count on support!
457 posted on 11/28/2001 9:19:51 PM PST by kstewskis
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To: Jim Robinson; John Robinson
As I have said before; I will be glad to donate some bandwidth if you need it. Sorry I cannot afford to donate monetarily. Just let me know. David ASNEDITOR
458 posted on 11/28/2001 9:20:12 PM PST by asneditor
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To: BADJOE
You've got freepmail. I have an idea.
459 posted on 11/28/2001 9:20:14 PM PST by TheErnFormerlyKnownAsBig
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To: Jim Robinson
I love FR. Thanks for letting me come here. The malcontents can kiss it.
460 posted on 11/28/2001 9:20:30 PM PST by Lizzy W
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