Free Republic
Browse · Search
News/Activism
Topics · Post Article

Skip to comments.

Is Free Republic a Fraud? Is it time for Free Republic to go away?
Free Republic | 11/28/01 | Jim Robinson

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


TOPICS: Activism/Chapters; Announcements; Breaking News
KEYWORDS: bushbabeslist; enviralists; hughhewitt; jimroblist; opuslist; usocanteen; zionist
Navigation: use the links below to view more comments.
first previous 1-20 ... 2,641-2,6602,661-2,6802,681-2,700 ... 3,761-3,776 next last
To: Clinton's a liar
The caveat: stop being so self-absorbed and make an effort to think beyond your pride.

OK, I'll try. But let me explain how I consider my own occasional dissent, especially regarding what sort of information is deemed unpostable on this forum. When I offer it, it is never in the spirit of "Jim Rob must do it my way or else." I know this is Jim Rob's site and he is free to do with it what he pleases. It's always been thus. When I offer up an occasional dissent, it is simply to be heard and noted. Jim Rob is absolutely free to reject it and run his forum as he sees fit. What is galling is to be banned merely for expessing one's opinion honestly. Whether Jim Rob (or anyone) agrees with my opinion I care not one whit. They are free to have their own opinions and I respect that. But so to am I free to have mine and I would like that fact to be respected as well. That's really all I've really ever wanted, for me, and for every FReeper.

This website is what it is. No one controls what happens here. Not you, not the moderators, no one. The content, in its voluminous nature, is controlled by the people who post here. If they stop posting, this website dies. If they stop contributing, this website dies. It's something more profound than you or me or Jim Robinson or the moderators. None of us, separately, can begin to replace the heart and soul of this website: the participants.

I agree with you 1000%, which is why it grieved me so to see so many great participants, your friends and mine, routinely cast into oblivion for nothing more than expressing their unique perspective on politics, or failing to conform to the prevailing officially approved group-think of the moment.

If you'll stop your I, me, mine bandwagon, not only will I forgive you (which means nothing in the big picture) but you'll never again be threatened by banishment.

Well, I never considered it only about I and me. There were far bigger issues at stake, like the heart and soul of this website as you so ably described it above. And as far as gaining an immunity from banishment, I don't really want that either. If I violate Jim Rob's original posting rules [no racism, no personal attacks (and hopefully mere expressions of political disagreement will not be regarded as personal attacks!), no spam, etc.], I will deserve to be banished and ought to be banished. I would only ask that I (or anyone) not be banished for expressing an honest opinion about politics or even about the way this forum is administered. After all, it's just one man's opinion. It has no power beyond the force of its persuasiveness, and everyone, as always, is absolutely free to be persuaded by it or not, and that includes Jim Rob. It's his site, and he has every right to run it as he pleases.

2,661 posted on 11/30/2001 10:11:01 PM PST by Arator
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 2645 | View Replies]

To: Clinton's a liar
Apology accepted, Arator. With a caveat, however. We are all fleeting on this planet. What you do with your time here is between you and your Maker.

This is so surreal. While I was reading your comments I was watching Tomb Raider (a Paramount production I might add!) and they were talking about all this clock of ages stuff. Well you get the picture.

Beware the vortex! It'll suck you in and make you watch PBS, I've heard.

2,662 posted on 11/30/2001 10:15:49 PM PST by nunya bidness
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 2645 | View Replies]

To: LarryLied
With all due respect, I really don't understand what you mean. You say that you're just here to read. Do you mean that anything not pertaining to news or political issues is irrelevant, or that people cannot persuade you to stop wishing this site well, both, neither, or what?

I hope you'll take the time to answer.

2,663 posted on 11/30/2001 10:18:59 PM PST by unsycophant
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 2638 | View Replies]

To: Jim Robinson
Anyone who doesn't like it should quit whining and not let the door hit them on the behind on their way OUT. You are doing a great job, and as long as you and your loyal volunteers are willing to serve the people, FReepers will come and be grateful for your efforts, and hopefully make contributions to help you keep going. Thanks for all you do.
2,664 posted on 11/30/2001 10:31:17 PM PST by drANN!
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: Clarity
Look at all that saturated fat. Eww
2,665 posted on 11/30/2001 10:32:14 PM PST by John Robinson
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: SamAdams76
Great post Sam, and I was ashamed to say I never donated before today, but read this site at least 3 times a week. That has now changed. I am now a regular monthly contributor.

Something you should note....I've rarely posted, but have elected to simply read and enjoy the many thoughful articles and comments. So, there may be many more lurkers then you think.

The next two years will be the defining life or death time for many dot-com web-sites. Can this model succeed and flourish when thousands of others will be going bankrupt? I believe it can, because the model is sound, and the dedication of Jim Robinson and fellow freepers is tremendous.

But let's not just survive, let's flourish, grow and take on many other endeavors via the internet! Take Care, Mike

2,666 posted on 11/30/2001 10:42:15 PM PST by planesman
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 384 | View Replies]

To: Silly
Excellent points. The brilliance of JimRob's running of FR is that of all the posters on FR I'm aware of that got banned, you're the only one about whom I thought "Really! That's too bad." All the others, "addition by subtraction." JMO - but I'm probably not wrong.
2,667 posted on 11/30/2001 10:42:47 PM PST by 185JHP
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 2488 | View Replies]

To: Torie
We have a lot of deflection of energy being expiated here. I suppose that is inevitable in a village such as this. Frailty thy name is human. Of course to enter the theatre of the absurd it would have been better if I had been in charge, as perhaps to the things that went wrong, but then how much wouldn't have gone right that did go right if I had the whip hand? Yep, the loss on the asset side of the ledger would have swamped it all no doubt. We can all keep striving for perfection, but even if we are most lucky and talented indeed, it is but an asymptotical function.

There are far too many multi-syllabic words in this paragraph to digest in one sitting. LOL. Could you translate this into layman's terms, please? ;^)

2,668 posted on 11/30/2001 10:51:16 PM PST by Arator
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 2660 | View Replies]

To: TKEman
Our asking for accountability is really no different than what you and others here asked of President Clinton.

Since you appeared to miss the obvious: had Bill clinton been just an average guy with his own web site, no one would care, or need to care, about his behavior. Accountability would be between him and his maker, and his ISP.

But here's the difference: Bill Clinton was an elected official, the head law enforcer of the United States- not Joe Sixpack of Peoria, Illinois.

When you ask for 'accountability,' you have a right to demand answers from elected officials and government employees, but you have no reason to expect to be informed of your neighbor's business, nor the financial, political, legal, or personal background of any citizen you feel like harassing.

Posting here is a privilege- it does not imply that you are entitled to anything.

2,669 posted on 11/30/2001 10:54:41 PM PST by piasa
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 2495 | View Replies]

To: Jim Robinson
Should FR go away? FR as such has a reason to exist, I suppose. In the state it is now? A resounding "hell no." It used to be insightful. Now it's a bunch of male cheerleaders who have nothing better to say than "WARING! LP SPAM! PRO HOMOSEXUALITY! ANTI BUSH!" I mean, seriously people. It's pretty pathetic when people have nothing logical to say than ad hominem "debates." It makes you seem like utter fools. Male cheerleaders who can't think of anything other than "Go Bush Go!" to say. And, of course, anyone who criticises the actions of Mr. Bush is anti American, because our Republican leader must be right. I don't know. It's just makes a lot of people look like utter fools. Is it too far removed from the truth? Somehow I doubt it.
2,670 posted on 11/30/2001 10:54:58 PM PST by Freeman Patrick Henry
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 2668 | View Replies]

To: Arator
No, the post sucked. Let it die. I think what I was trying to say, and quite poorly, is that as a lawyer I could have avoided some trouble, and I tolerate more disagreement in the public square than some (indeed this place needs some intelligent liberals IMO), but who in the hell would want a neocon running this place anyway? LOL.
2,671 posted on 11/30/2001 10:56:03 PM PST by Torie
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 2668 | View Replies]

To: Torie
and I tolerate more disagreement in the public square than some (indeed this place needs some intelligent liberals IMO), but who in the hell would want a neocon running this place anyway? LOL.

Hey, you're one Neo-con I'd nominate as host, exactly because you do and would tolerate, even embrace disagreement. And I agree with you, having some intelligent liberals here to wrestle with would be fun. We might even be surprised at the common ground we might discover once we peel away the meaningless partisan labels (like anti-globalism, anti-interventionism, etc.). Of course, I'm speaking from a Paleo perspective. LOL.

2,672 posted on 11/30/2001 11:04:09 PM PST by Arator
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 2671 | View Replies]

To: Arator
Arator, are you refering to the so-called Old-Right? If so, I would be forced to use the descriptor Old Left--for I am. A classical liberal, that is.
2,673 posted on 11/30/2001 11:07:18 PM PST by Freeman Patrick Henry
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 2672 | View Replies]

To: Freeman Patrick Henry
Speaking of people being banned, has anyone seen Alan Chapman?
2,674 posted on 11/30/2001 11:07:43 PM PST by Freeman Patrick Henry
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 2673 | View Replies]

To: Freeman Patrick Henry
I've seen him but not around here.
2,675 posted on 11/30/2001 11:14:52 PM PST by nunya bidness
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 2674 | View Replies]

To: nunya bidness
Is he banned?
2,676 posted on 11/30/2001 11:15:13 PM PST by Freeman Patrick Henry
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 2675 | View Replies]

To: Freeman Patrick Henry
Arator, are you refering to the so-called Old-Right? If so, I would be forced to use the descriptor Old Left--for I am. A classical liberal, that is.

Yes, I think the term Paleo-con is equivalent to Old-Right. As for the Old-Left/classical liberals, they are so close to the Old-Right in many respects as to be almost indistinguishable. That great classical liberal, Murry Rothbard, for example, was virtually sympatico with and supported the candidacy of Paleo-con Pat Buchanan before he died.

2,677 posted on 11/30/2001 11:17:24 PM PST by Arator
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 2673 | View Replies]

To: Freeman Patrick Henry
Maybe he quit because of the cogency and intensity of my argumentation against his ideas when we briefly crossed paths. After that he was rarely seen. But I highly suspect I'm being delusional. :)
2,678 posted on 11/30/2001 11:18:52 PM PST by Torie
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 2674 | View Replies]

To: Arator
I'm more of a Jefferson or Rand type old leftist. It's sort of capitalism (capitalism is a word like conservative, n'est pas? it really means anything and nothing) applied to politics, if you catch my meaning.
2,679 posted on 11/30/2001 11:21:44 PM PST by Freeman Patrick Henry
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 2677 | View Replies]

To: Torie
Maybe he quit because of the cogency and intensity of my argumentation against his ideas when we briefly crossed paths. After that he was rarely seen. But I highly suspect I'm being delusional. :)

Kind of like the cogency and intensity of your post above? ;^)

Maybe you just left him bewildered, and he wondered off completely confused. LOL.

2,680 posted on 11/30/2001 11:22:49 PM PST by Arator
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 2678 | View Replies]


Navigation: use the links below to view more comments.
first previous 1-20 ... 2,641-2,6602,661-2,6802,681-2,700 ... 3,761-3,776 next last

Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.

Free Republic
Browse · Search
News/Activism
Topics · Post Article

FreeRepublic, LLC, PO BOX 9771, FRESNO, CA 93794
FreeRepublic.com is powered by software copyright 2000-2008 John Robinson