Is Free Republic a Fraud? Is it time for Free Republic to go away?

Free Republic | 11/28/01 | Jim Robinson

[goodnesswins]

If Free Republic is a Fraud, then Bill Clinton is the Tooth Fairy.....PLEASE keep Free Republic going....I'll give my monthly amount again (I'm due). This is the best site on the web, although it is ADDICTIVE, and I'm having to wean myself away somewhat.

[Orion78]

Free Republic is not a Fraud and there will never be a time that Free Republic should go away.

[anniegetyourgun]

It's cash only for me.

[libsrscum]

I LOVE Free Republic! It kept me sane during last year's election fiasco. I receive more current, newsworthy information HERE than anywhere else. That's why Free Republic is my home page! It's NOT a fraud, but a "shining city" on the internet hill!

FReepers are the wittiest, funniest and most informed people I know! And tin foil! We've got those types too just for fun!

I'm stickin' with Free Republic, Jim and I hope you will too!

I'm ordering everybody to support Jim, Free Republic AND to be nice to each other!

Free Republic Forever!

Good night and thank you all!

[mercy]

Oh horse feathers! Jim is obviously 'donating' a huge portion of his life while you and I and 99% of FReepers don't even come close to that. It's not fair. This site isn't JUST about some 'Cause'. Most of us are just having fun most of the timne. It's entertainment and you know it. YOU are one of the most serrious and one of the most effective activists here but don't think that's why most of the others are here. No matter what BS they tell themselves. It's up to JR how much of his blood sweat and tears he is willing to donate to the cause but WE have no right to expect everything from him. Personally I think he should be paying himself at least 150k a year to run FR.

[Nita Nupress]

Hey, Mojo et al! Thank you for serving FR in your own special and unique capacity by being such excellent incentives for fundraising. Can we get a promise that you'll come around every quarter to serve such a useful purpose?

The "Rush Limbaugh of the internet." I like it!

[The Real Deal]

Selling internet ads doesn't bring much revenue. No one clicks them.

I bet you could get some clicking going on this site. LOL You gotta love it.

[is_is]

what is the Eschoir law suit about? how'd i miss that?

[alley cat]

Here's another vote for keeping going. I don't pay any attention to the whining threads!!

[Ben Hecks]

Jim, it looks like 70,000 say keep FR........guess I'll go along with the majority. (actually, you just wanted to set a new record for the thread with the most replies :)

[mtngrl@vrwc]

Please don't close down FRee Republic! This site has become a huge part of my life. I would be lost and in the dark without it!

I know you Jim; we have traveled to Modesto together to FReep Gary Condit, we FReep the peacenics in Fresno every Friday night, we greeted President Bush when he landed at the Fresno Airport on his way to Sequoia National Park. This one thing I know above all others: you are a good, decent man who is a patriot above all. There isn't a dishonest bone in your body.

Free Republic is where I get my news. The networks can't be trusted to tell us what is really going on in this country. The media has an agenda that they are pushing and preserving our free press isn't part of it. Without Free Republic, we wouldn't know what is going on.

I have made friends for life through Free Republic. These are people that I would never have met otherwise.

Long live Free Republic and Jim Robinson! (my contribution is in the mail)

[havoc1us]

How 'bout selling web services like KeepAndBearArms??? I'd love an address@FreeRebublic.com. I'd pay $20/mth for web access by FreeRepublic.

[jwfiv]

A thank you, as profound and sincere as I can muster, is yours

Truth is, FR is one of the greatest boons of my already rich life, and I would grieve and be lost should you fold your tent.

I'll be getting some bread to you, but I have the thought that our casual and voluntary contributions may be too unreliable for your bills to be paid with assurance.

I am wondering if a single, unobtrusive ad would help...a nice, non-flashy link to Amazon, for instance. Us Freepers would swamp 'em, you'd get a little return. I'm unsure how all that works, but it might be a viable, low-impact solution. We're always posting links to them, for Barbara Olson's book, etc.

The clean and spacious beauty of the page, graphics and layout are a class act and I think that could be maintained, even with such an ad/link.

No matter what, you are a blessing to sooooooooo many good people throughout the world.

Muchas gracias, amigos.

[Fabozz]

"If you charged a monthly fee for posting, I'd subscribe."

Bingo—that's the right answer. Ignoring the fundraising issue, charging for the right to post has some very real benefits. First, it strengthens the "terms of service" contract, since actual money is changing hands. Second, it eliminates retreads, since when you ban an account you could ban any future attempts to register with the same credit card. And third, it weeds out disruptors—at least the ones on fixed incomes. :-)

[glf]

Do not close down. Post a link so I can donate. Thanks Jim.

[oldvike]

You should definately keep it, Jim. FR is your calling in life. Yeah, that sounds kind of corny but it's true.

[Silly]

I was just being Silly, silly!

Hugs, not hits, Fred.

[CreekerFreeper]

Quit the belly-aching. Do the conservative thing: Set it up and issue an IPO and raise operating capital. Operate this company like a business, be accountable to shareholders and your detractors will go quietly into the night. I'll buy shares.

[Cinnamon Girl]

1. WOW. I had no idea how expensive it is to run this site.

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.

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.

6. I don't understand why, if you currently have for-profit status, you would need to justify your budget.

7. Until you just mentioned it, I didn't know there were any anti-FR sites.