Don't worry, JimRob, I'll never be turned to the dark side. (Even if you remove a song now and then.) :) It's like a family. Is there anyone who hasn't butted heads with their wife, mom, brother etc?
Most of the time when JR hears from me it's because I'm upset about something. We place value on the priority people in our lives hence what they say, do and think is important to us.
That's why the AFs act like they do. They're like scorned children who've had a falling out with their family, FR was THAT much of a factor in their lives.
I'm starting to think that a yearly fee is the way to go. It would put an end to all of these mystery people (on various sides of various issues) just coming and going as they please.
Or maybe a system where after such and such date, all new accounts will have to register and pay .... or at least register and provide more than an email addy. After a while the disrputors, AFs, Chinese, Islamists, and pinkos would start to fall off.
The strife in the forum over the last year is worse than ever. I'm starting to think we can't continue to let people come and go at will anymore.
I consider my monthly contribution to Free Republic as actually a subscription to a service that I value to the extent that I am willing to pay for it. Like others who have posted regarding this assault on Free Republic and it's activities, I have seen it all before to one degree or another. There are always self-important individuals who get their meaning for life from tearing down achievers. I have great admiration for those individuals who make FR function. From experience in both leadership capacity and general all around volunteer where needed I know the hazards of building an organization or ad hoc committees etc. I also know the absolute necessity for Americans to take on the responsibility for keeping this country free. The time for giving a free ride to posters who use this forum for personal self-agrandizement has passed. FR is free to browsers and lurkers but there should be some fee for posting. Also, as to the financial end of the FR organization, I do not care where my small contribution goes anymore than I am interested in the financial end of any other service I avail myself of. I will leave when and if our common interests and goals diverge. I do not expect this to happen as I have great respect for the leadership of the FR organization.