Posted on 11/28/2001 7:31:29 PM PST by Jim Robinson
Free Republic has had one helluva run over the last five years or so. We helped impeach one president and helped get another into office. We've been active in demonstrations and protests in nearly every city across the nation. We've participated in conventions, petition drives, activism campaigns and projects for dozens of conservative causes.
We've grown from a tiny web site with a few hundred posters and readers from the time of inception in 1996, to one with tens of thousands of participants today. Along the way we've made lots of great friends and, unfortunately, also made lots of bitter enemies.
We've grown from a small web site that I could manage myself on a part-time basis to a huge monster that has totally consumed all of my time and resources plus nearly all of John's time, plus the time and resources of many dedicated FReepers who volunteer or contribute large amounts of their own time and money.
The site is now consuming all of a 10 mbps dedicated line with two servers and we're still growing, and it consumes large amounts of money to keep all this running. In the early years, it only took a few thousand dollars per month to keep Free Republic on the air, but it is now costing over $20,000 per month to cover all expenses.
The major costs include approximately $8,000 per month for bandwidth, 3,000 for systems management and programming services, 7,000 for management, operating and administrative services, plus two or three thousand per month for miscellaneous office expenses, telephone, communications, repairs & maintenance, travel & lodging, postage, rentals, insurance, legal fees, accounting fees, etc., etc.
We anticipate a reduction in bandwidth costs next year as we renegotiate our contract (the market price for bandwidth has fallen recently), however, that will be more than offset by an expected increase in costs of our legal expenses. As most of you know, our pro bono attorney has left us and we've hired a new attorney to continue with our case, plus we have the suit against eschoir to pay for. My projections are that our regular monthly expenses for next year will be running in the neighborhood of $22,000 per month, or approximately $264,000 total for the year. This means we will need to raise approximately $66,000 per quarter.
Talking about making enemies, we've got several ex-FReepers and other detractors who are claiming on their anti-freeper web sites that I am ripping off the donors and that Free Republic is a fraud. Now, Free Republic is what it is, and it is definitely not a fraud. It is a conservative news discussion forum that encourages participation in politics and activism projects. It is not being billed as anything else. We are not selling or promising anything. And I am being up front about our operating costs. The costs of running Free Republic are what I've stated above and they are necessary to keep FR on the air. I do not have the financial wherewithal to operate this site without your help. If the majority of the FReepers feel that these costs are out of line or too much to bear or that Free Republic is no longer wanted or needed, then we will either cut it back or shut it down or do something altogether different.
I've also been criticized about not making our financials public. Well, the reason I do not want to do this is that I have been sued, both personally and as Free Republic, LLC. The people suing us want to bankrupt us and shut us down. They subpoenaed our financial records, but we refused to turn them over. The judge agreed that the plaintiffs have no right to the information, thus I have no intention of making any more of it public than I absolutely have to, until this lawsuit is resolved. You all know the amounts of money we raise if you follow the fundraising threads. It is all above board and out in the open. The totals posted by BadJoe are usually pretty close to the actual cash received and the amounts expended are pretty close to the amounts projected. No one is getting rich here and no one is being ripped off. The funds raised are being used for the purposes stated, and that is keeping this website on the air and that's it. Nothing fraudulent about it. Those who want to help fund us freely do so with nothing expected in return. Those who do not want to contribute do not have to.
There was a thread running this morning where people were making all kinds of accusations about Free Republic "hiding the truth" or whatever. These accusations are being made by Chuck Allan and others and fall along the same line with the accusations being made by some of the earlier banees or AFers including Mojo, Inspector Harry Callahan, Arator, keep U.S. Sovereign, TKEman and others. Some of these people are existing FReepers and some are banned. I am going to reinstate Mojo, Inspector Harry Callahan and Arator's accounts so they can join Chuck Allan, TKEman, K.U.S.S. and whomever else wants to get involved, and I invite them to come onto this thread and make their accusations public. As long as they do not go onto other threads and make a nuisance of themselves, I will let them have their say.
Like I said above, if it is time for Free Republic to go away so be it. Those who want to keep it going speak up. Those who want it to go away, tell us why. But if those who want it to be gone lose out in the debate, then I'd say they should just go away themselves, or, in the very least, shut up and quit whining about it.
Thanks,
Jim
What else can I use as an excuse for not cleaning the house?
.........but..........but..........I JUST got here!!!!
My checks in the mail.
LOL!! What, exactly, are you talking about? Whatever it is, it's delusional.
Talk to the hand.
I am not interested in any financial information about you or your company. You provide a service, many of us are more than happy to pay for it. I don't need to see the financials of Safeway: they have food, I want food, I buy their food. That's the market. I have not been able to give what I would like in the most recent past due to a financial crisis, but I intend now to kick in more for this product.
My only concern/gripe is one you are well aware of: I think the forum should be as free and unmoderated as possible. I don't think threads or comments should be pulled unless the violation is so egregious that it would cause serious harm to the website. But otherwise, it is a great product and I, for one, will continue buying it. Thank you...
I'd have to say that this goal is met every day on this site. Like everyone else here, I have had a few posts inexplicably banished to the bit void, but that is of no significance compared to the value I have taken from the quick access to and intelligent, witty discussion of latest news and opinion.
Focus on the prize: getting more and more people to THINK about the beliefs we share and encourage but not attempt to force them to agree with us. In a world where new liberal voters are born by our horrid school systems every day, we need every logical, right-minded voter we can attract to our causes.
Be of good cheer,
Callahan Banned
I have not been around as long as many, so my perspective is a little different.
I don't understand why there seems to be so much concern around here about the likes and dislikes of such people as Arator and Callahan. They are consumed by the finances and inner workings of FR. They don't like the "cliqueish elite". They don't like what they refer to as the "Guild." So what? They may not like banana nut ice cream, but who cares?
Anyone who thinks a free service which accepts voluntary donations can, under any definition, be a fraud is demonstrably idiotic and should be considered irrelevant.
So here is the point: Why waste time on them? Can they harm us somehow? Are they kept around because their targets enjoy the verbal jousting? Are they somehow ingrained in the DNA soup of FReeRepublic, and thus can't be let go of? Do they have anything to do with whether FR continues or not?
I guess I just don't get it. What am I missing?
Discuss among yourselves.
Filed notice dated 10/1/01 of Notice of Substitution of David R. Flyer in place of attorney Brian L. Buckley for aples Free Republic, & James C. Robinson [00-57211] (mhf)
{{{{{{{{{{crickets}}}}}}}}}}
152 Posted on 10/11/2001 12:59:53 PDT by Inspector Harry Callahan
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IHC and guys, Was this and the subsequent post about the new attorney your last posting? This information is available to anyone who looks for it, including eschior{sp?} the manevolent. Were there any "private" communications between you all? What's up?? Peace and love, George.
Is it time for Free Republic to go away?
Only you, Mr. Robinson, can ultimately answer that question. As each of us expresses our opinions it will probably sway your decision one way or the other. If monetary constraints hamper you then I would say shut it down. I would not like to know that you impoverished yourself simply to keep the forum up.
As for myself, I would hope that it does stay and you would continue in your endeavor. There is no other place quite like FR IMO. My voluntary monetary gifts are small and insignificant compared to others more financially capable than myself, but such is life. My "penny" may be worth another's "c-note" in value.
Just my two cents worth.
IN A CAGE!!!
Texas Table Rules!! Loser must leave town in a weasel outfit!!!!
IN THE OMNI!!! Winner gets 5 minutes with Jane Fonda IN A LADDER MATCH!!!!
I have never understood why they just don't LEAVE and forget about FR; but they are obsessed with it.
As for me, Arator or one of his friends "pretended" to be me on the AF site and used a lot of VILE language; even after he knew it was me, he wouldn't acknowledge it because it didn't suit the agenda over there. I'm holding a grudge......LOL.
Besides, they reappear from time to time; newbies need to know that they are NO friend of FR.
I don't know what chuck allen said, but I bet it was in good faith and that there is some other issue that is mixed up in this mess. Chuck Allen has helped raise more money for FR over the years than most and deserves credit and thanks, imho.
Here I am being caustic..... Happy Holidays!
Here I am being cordial.... Happy Holidays!
See the difference?
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