[John Robinson]

I'd personally rather see just one fundraising thread. If all you're worried about is staying in BN, I'll talk to Jim and see if we can paste a link at the top of latest posts, that way BN won't need to be used at all. I can whip up a nice little progress bar or something which could be maintained by Badjoe, et al. That might go a long way to help FR meet its mark.

Maybe something like this:

Free Republic 4th Quarter Fundraising Target: $80,000

Pledges to-date: $30,915

37%

$50 just in from Alaska! $100 from Texas! Thank you FReepers!!

[John Robinson]

Furthermore, I'd personally like to see something like that available _somewhere_ 24/7 365 days a year. Like a fuel gauge, it would provide information on how FR is currently doing, financially. It would be coordinated with FR AR/AP (or whatever), so that when funds are recieved it "fills up" and when funds are paid out, it goes down.

At a later time, it could link to some type of general ledger showing the flow of funds.

[WIMom]

John,

Willa asked this question a month ago or so. If we could have the thread stay at the top, we would only need one thread. If it scrolls out of BN, then we would need multiple threads. I was thinking that something like, 'how long will this thread be' contest might be fun if we had one thread. I like the prototype you posted. Would the bar graph be constantly displayed on every article, or would it only be on lastest posts? Could you make it a clickable bar-link to the main thread? Also, would you be able to have something like this permanently on FR?

Thanks, WIMom

[Vermonter]

John,

You're ideas for the fundraising progress and link are great!

I would also like to second the request for the permanent link to the donation site.

We have also lost the link to FR's address on the bottom of every thread, which used to be convenient to point to. I understand if you had to remove that to speed things up.

The fact that FR is user supported and a link to how to accomplish that needs to be visible ALL the time. Thanks for all you are doing, and maybe we'll be able to add to the pizza and coke budget this go around :-}

[BADJOE]

That would be wonderful. Thank you.

[Jim Robinson]

John, this would be great! Can you install it today? We can work out the details later of how to keep it going all year, but I like your idea of displaying the total funds needed vs the current cash balance. I don't think it should be on the article pages though, just the latest posts pages. Thanks. BTW, have I ever told you you are a genius? Must be something in the genes. With love, Dad

[Aerial]

Well of course you never had any attention of shutting this site down. You've already said as much. That post was for rooting out "naysayers".

What a sorry way to jump-start a flurry of donations. Your tactic is as dishonest as hell and doesn't speak too well of you in my book. I wouldn't even say it was a stroke of genius because it is quite obvious to anyone with two eyes to read and half a brain.

Your strategy is so very transparent.

You bait your enemies (or those who speak out against your policies) to the forum and give the more rabid members something to sink their teeth into. Give them a reason to band together in a feeding frenzy and work themselves into a DONATING lather. Then you sit back and enjoy the show as your stooges do the job of defending, praising and worshipping you. Do you enjoy the wretched displays of insults and arguments done in your name like two people fighting over a lover? What's you game JR...really? This is all do damned UNECESSARY...and you know it.

You bait people to a thread insinuating FR might have to shut down all the while knowing you haven't the slightest intention of shutting FR down. Why the dishonesty? Why the bait? Why the game-playing?

I'm nobody big....just a mother with four kids. I haven't been here that long...just since last May. At first I enjoyed this site...for a very short while. I'm not wealthy but we have money in the bank. I was more than willing to contribute to this site if I felt it was worth it. Just about the time I thought I had found a really good site to get behind here...and satisfied myself that it was worth giving to...an article I posted got pulled by you. It was an article by Mike Ruppert concerning the trading that was done just before the World Trade Center was hit. And that was just about the time you got so PC about Bush. I received an email message from you which stated it was "BS, don't post this crap on the forum".

Well...I've got news for you I've seen some crap posted on this forum that the crap I posted can't hold a candle to. But...all that aside...my way of thinking is why would I be so stupid as to send money to support a forum where my views and the veiws of others is dismissed simply because it is not PC to you or your inside crowd? I wouldn't give this site a dime if I cannot freely express my views here. In all honesty...would you?

You may be the owner of this forum but you cannot make it without the people who participate here. YOU need them. I say them because you don't need me...because I wouldn't give you one red cent. You also need the articles they post. The people on this forum are providing you with a pretty good living so maybe you ought to cut them some slack. You may work hard here but it's not like you are not getting anything out of it....even if you would like some to believe that.

This may be your baby...but those who give and want to... do have right to know what's going on with the money. If the people who surround you are pissing it away in divers ways it might have an impact on some little old ladies or men who are giving donations out of their pension...people who are sending you their Christmas money, etc...you know things like that.

I have never been banned but I do welcome it if you see fit. That or just erase my membership information. I can't support this site under it's present conditions and as such...I really don't deserve to participate. Nor do I care to any longer. It's certainly not of any interest to me when I cannot state my views while abiding by the rules.

The thread regarding FR being a fraud is nothing more than a tactic for pulling in donations. And you should be ashamed of yourself for not only baiting dissenters but your loyal membership too.

I only hope Mojo..whoever he is...has the good sense not to fall for your bait.

As far as flame-throwers coming to your defense against me...have at it. I will not respond to any posts as I am not going to play that game and continue to add fuel to the fire of this disgusting ploy for donations and JR worship.

Frankly, I find it disturbing that some act as if freeping here is a drug that they are addicted to. Maybe addiction is the right word to use for folks who don't ever question anything...whether it's right or wrong...they just want their next fix. "I'll give you money...just give me my fix!...beat me..beat me...make me write bad checks!" LOL. You all have a very merry Christmas...and may FR survive as long as it is destined to.