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
I have been bothered by the way the thread where chuck allen raised his concerns was deleted. I don't know chuck very well, so I can't speak about his motives, desires, etc. The thread made it to 300 posts without a moderator stepping in (so I discount that the "thread" was actually an issue)...chuck got off topic with his questions, but his questions did raise some concerns. The thread dissappeared shortly thereafter (not his comments, not him...but the entire thread). This appeared to me as someone was throwing "dirt over the tire tracks."
Jim, I don't care if you wanna take an annual salary of $200K. The success of your website would validate such a salary, so to that I say "go you capitalist dog, you." However, the immediacy of the deletion of that thread certainly made it appear that someone was trying to hide something. Was this just a case of a moderator with an itchy trigger finger? If that's the case, then please tell us so.
I'm easily on FR 10 times a day...my wife thinks I'm nuts for going online and checking FR before lights out every night. I tell her it's the only way to get the REAL NEWS.
You got a few "enemies" nipping at your heels? Take it as a compliment...their ire only speaks of your success and the power of your efforts.
While the company I work for is on the verge of bankrupcy, my wife spends my paycheck faster than I can bring it in...I look forward to sending a fair chunk of change to help support FR. Christmas presents may be a tad small this year, but so be it.
Thank you for bringing FR to the world. It's a better place because of FR.
I think it has to do with the legal structure of the FR.
I'd advistise in a minute if JR offered.
Harry, I've got years of experience with those clowns.
Years.
Each and every one of them is a bitter, self-absorbed, spiteful, bunghole.
You can find out for yourself if you choose, or you can take my word for it, but you'll figure it out eventually either way.
They aren't interested in just and honest criticism of FR.
They're interested in screwing over Jim, FR, and anyone they see as associated with them.
They're a pack of lying jackals.
I don't think there is anything wrong in keeping your expenses and your revenue from donations entirely private even in absence of lawsuits. People give you money becuase they want to, and they receive something they value in return.
If you choose to tell us what the cash flow is like, do so, but don't feel an obligation. Those who demand an account are wrong; they don't understand how a free society is supposed to operate.
I looked at your link and the only thing that I saw was chuck asking about details about the money raised on the cruise, that were summarily dismissed by others because chuck did not attend the cruise. I did'nt see any statements by chuck that were out of line or breaking the posting guidelines. He may not have helped or attended the cruise but his questions were not over the line.
I am interested in the FR budget as well because I help raise money here and am always concerned that I am not asking people to donate to something that I don't fully undersatand. However, I realize the difficulties in full disclosure because of the people that are anxious to see FR shut down, and I have confidence in JR and BADJOE's actions and that they will not make a fool out of me for encouraging others to monetarily support this site.
I still say that chuck is either being treated unfairly or there is some other issue here that is not apparent to me, and if the money raised for the cruise is not disclosed I would prefer that it not even be used in regards to FR at all. A vague budget for reasons stated is ok by me, but not disclosing a general accounting causes me concern. From what I have seen so far I agree with chuck.
To me, this site is visited by those clicking on it. Contributions are made voluntarily. How can there be any fraud in that? If someone does not like it - don't visit. If you disagree with management, leave. It is that simple.
From now on, if I run across posters who insinuate fraud, who whine about the site - I will say what I think of their actions and suggest they just leave and not waste their time on a site they so hate.
Jim has created a wonderful site. In truth, he should be able to profit from his creation as others profit from theirs - Bill Gates, etc. I would not be in the least offended if he did profit from the site.
The conservative movement needs the ability to work together. Our country is at stake. Those that seek to take this site down know the power seen here and they want it gone or are merely jealous want-a-bees. Jim created this and none of their whining will change that.
Best wishes,
Callahan
I would be willing to gladly pay $35 per year for the privilege of lurking and posting on FR. The little extra fund then would be used to cover emergencies, promotions, etc.
Jim, I would think it is time to seriously consider going to subscriber-based FR. I would vote for it.
Let's put it to vote by the members!
You dug. And I'm proud of you!
Kindest regards,
Callahan
You've seen some... but not all. Basically you've seen what they want you to see. They watched your disagreements with FR, and they pulled you into the fold with the intent of making you useful to their purposes. They could give a shit less about you, or the beef you have with FR. They have their own agenda, and so long as they view you as useful to it, they continue to cultivate their "friendship" with you.
You're a big boy... you will do as you see fit, but don't say you weren't warned.
This thing has a history.
A long one.
I have made some donations to FreeRepublic over the years and I truly meant to send more but I never seem to get it done. So sorry. I am sure there are many others just like me. The solution is to bill me for the service. It would easily be worth at least ten dollars a month just for the privlege of reading(lurking).
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