Yep, when we moved here 12 years ago there was a large sign along Interstate 10 reading "Welcome to Taxes"....just west of La-Tx border near Orange, Texas. Now I know what it means....but I still like only having one Stop sign in 22 miles(one way) every morning on the way to work, being able to sight-in a firearm with live ammo in my backyard(boonies), and seeing trucks with loaded rifle racks(and owners who know how to use them and what for) near the cattle feeders....
If you wanted to destroy a site like Free Republic, what would you do? Well, here's my guess.
1. Trivialize the discussions, ask about favorite shampoo etc.
2. Post every article on every subject. This prevents any consensus of opinion. It also keeps people from forming a community.
3. Have shills comment one after the other to create an illusion of agreement on subjects most conservatives would not agree with.
4. Encourage anything that maintains the stereotype liberals have of conservatives. ( haters, prejudiced etc. -- if real freepers don't live up to the stereotype, put in shills to maintain it)
5. Encourage "feelings" not rational thought.
6. Bash Mexican/Islam/Arab/Blacks etc.
Any others?
Some of these districts are good. IMO the problem is when one person votes for the district and by some coincidence they happen to be the developers brother that does not even live there.