[usconservative]

I'm pretty much stuck with the choice of folding up the public political discussion board (thus depriving myself and thousands of others this obviously effective and established opportunity of exercising our first amendment rights to political free speech), or allowing others to voluntarily donate money as gifts to pay the expenses. There is not much room to do anything else.

And that right there, is how I have viewed each of my contributions to FR. Anyone who sends FR a donation (or gift) expecting to have control over the system, special "access" or favors granted, special treatment in any way, or somehow thinking that they can demand "financial accountability" is seriously mistaken.

Donations are "gifts" and go with no strings attached.

Just my view.

[usconservative]

There is no inventory, no manufacturing, no sales, no services rendered, no investors, no stockholders, no board of directors, no outsiders, no sales people, no employees, no payroll, no payroll expenses, no payroll taxes, no employee benefits, no nothing. There is no commercial business taking place here. There is nothing commercial about Free Republic.

Au contraire. FR provides one of the most valuable services on the 'net, IMO. It is the only forum that I am aware of, where Conservatives (and non-Conservatives) can get together and have the conversations that we do, right here.

FR has been my "lifeline" at times over the past few years that I've been here. It is the first place I come to for news and opinion on a variety of topics. Often, my own opinion is either validated/solidified or swayed based on the intelligent, cogent opinion of others that I have read here.

I challenge ANYONE to name another website like FR. There is none. And that's why IMO FreeRepublic provides a very valuable service on the 'net.

You are far too humble Jim. :)

[Fiddlstix]

BTTT

[Alas Babylon!]

Your invention, Free Republic, is, IMHO, a new kind of entity, uniquely American, that allows like-minded INDIVIDUALS to comment, debate, and converse about the body politic of our nation and the world. It is the electronic version of Hyde Park in London, where anyone can get on a soapbox and talk about what they will. But even this description falls short.

Free Republic is something new, both in scope (world-wide) and application (letting total strangers converse and debate).

It's kind of sad, really, to think about a government, or any regulatory body, that through its bureaucracy would try to impose rules and regulations based on OTHER THINGS that Free Republic is not. Maybe, Free Republic will be gone soon, because of this, or push the government to consider new ideas and ways of defining things. So right now, we may be in a golden age that some will look back on as the beginning of the common man's participation and control of his own life.

At least I hope so.

[ArneFufkin]

I'm going to assume that the reason you are so careful about distancing this forum from a commercial enterprise is the litigation. Jim, if there is any possible way, settle the lawsuits. ASAP. The lawyers are in a robotic groove of indifferent complacency here - they're not going to act. Look, we'll link to the source documents of the outlets that require it, no problem. Jim, we've been doing it for a year now with the LAT and Post articles. Any accommodation - capitulation - is well worth it if you are unchained from that burden. If the Times and Post are going to be dicks, you've got a state-of-the-art BBS software platform, attractive to any media website, that you can bargain to settle any financial damages alleged - any judge would settle this thing fairly. The Post and Times have bigger fish to fry - let them win a fair use skirmish that you can't afford to wager.

Once you settle, make this a subscription site. You've got 70,000+ registered users here, and who knows how many regular users, yet less than 1000 Freepers contributed to the last fundraiser here. Ditch the leakers. The network overhead needs to be plannable and affordable to the number of anticipated users. That truth is the legacy of all the dead dotcoms. Hey, make everybody who uses this site invest in this site. If they're not willing to pony $20 annually for access here, they don't value this resource and they shouldn't be using the forum in the first place.

Just my $.02 from someone who cares about this joint.

[kayak]

Outstanding, Jim!

Thanks for letting us share in your hobby!

God bless you and God bless America!

[Republic of Texas]

Jim, Just for the record, I don't care if you make a billion dollars or lose a billion dollars on Free Republic. It's your baby. If I contribute, and you spend my money on strippers, more power to you. Some may whine, but in any group, there will always be a few whiners. Even amongst conservatives and libertarians. Ironic isn't it? Thanks for the site, it's become a big part of my day. Dave

[philman_36]

I think that most would recognize "a labor of love" when they see it.
Of course, they first have to have open eyes.
Too many wish to go through life blinded, having voluntarily closed their eyelids.
"I don't want to see and you can't make me."

[RonDog]

ping

[WIMom]

Would now be a good time to post a fundraiser link? LOL!

[Jeff Head]

Very well said and very succinctly put.

I was just wondering ... here's a hypothetical.

Let's say a group of people got together, or an individual for that matter, and announced that each day over at some property owned by this individual or group, people were invited (absolutely free of charge) to gather to discuss the news of the day with a goal of discovering and pointing out inaccuracy in print. Let's say these people decided to give themselvers a name and called it the, uh ... "Free Town Crieres" for want of a better term.

All were invited to bring their newspapers and magazines and share them and their content with each other. All were invited to then discuss those articles from the various Newspapers and magazines. Some folks would bring their own magazines and newspapers that they susbscribed to. Others would bring ones they found in the trash, on counter tops or that were given to them by friends.

Overtime, more and more people come. More and more variety is discussed. Some of the folks pare off or group together on their own and become activists regarding what they had discussed and discovered. Some form separate "chapters" of the "Bohemia Free Town Criers" or the "Anytown USA FreeTown Criers". The phenomenae spreads but there is never any required fee or membership or any "service" rendered.

Would there be any avenue or cause for the newspapers and magazines to sue these people and try and force them to stop gathering and discussing? I think not.

In essence, isn't FreeRepublic just an electronic version of this very same priniciple?

If it is, and I believe it is, then it would seem that some defense, some brief could be filed from this perspective.

Anyhow, just a thought.

Either way, great post and God's richest blessings to you and yours Jim for the holidays and always.

FRegards!

[Harrison Bergeron]

Thanks and God bless. The idea of a FRee Republic institution of higher learning is something I've heard some respectable academics (yes, there are still a few left) put forth in a few other forums. Very feasible, but frought with the pitfalls of any formal "organization" re officers and accountability.

Perhaps the fledgeling FRee Republic Institute might give it a shot.

[RWG]

It's the only good reason why Al Gore invented the internet.

[Grampa Dave]

Free Republic is really the unique Free Republic Life Form that was created by you a few years ago.

It is neither a corporation, an individual/private business, a charity, or a business operating under a fictional name!

It is a unique Life Form that is totally dependent on the brothers and sisters of Free Republic who donate their time, talent and treasure to keep it alive and thriving. We nurture it, and it in turn nurtures us when we visit it!

The Free Republic Life Form is a truly unique entity. There is nothing else like it on earth! There will probably never be another entity like it! Thank you for being its creator and the leader of this flock of believers!

[Fred Mertz]

I'm happy you developed this hobby, Jim.

If and when you ever go commercial, I think you'll be rolling in the dough as you deserve.

[EdReform]

"No one must give to use Free Republic. The website is free to all participants. It is simply a public political discussion forum that I operate as an avocation and people are willing to freely give in order to keep it alive and on the air, because they love it."

Thanks for keeping FR alive!

Free Republic Lifeform

[BigBlueJon]

Thanks for the reminder. This is truly a great site. There is no other place like this. Where else could we go to get the same news, the same discussions and the same support? No where. You don't know what you've got till it's gone, so let's keep this going.

[JulieRNR21]

So, Free Republic is not a commercial operation nor is it a charity. What is it then? It is simply what it is, a non-commercial, not for profit public (decidely for conservatives) electronic townhall meeting and bulletin board discussion forum operated as an avocation with its expenses paid for in the form of taxable gifts from some of its fans because they love it, and they do not want it to die.

Thanks for creating the best place on the Internet for all the visitors!

[Ms. AntiFeminazi]

I wish for you and your family the best life has to offer.

***Merry Christmas***

[The Raven]

I got a sick feeling when I read the first few paragraphs. The essence of the First Amendment is to NOT have the government regulate speech. But through laws and taxation policy, that's exactly what they're doing.