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
Hey, they're Americans, too!
I saw him just a moment ago.
Is he banned?
Not yet. Although the word on the street is that certain individuals have become trigger happy with the abuse button around here and bragged about it to others. Apparently they don't understand that the purpose of the abuse button is to notify management of innappropriate posts and not to silence people with whom they have disagreements.
You're saying he died?
I'm alive and well. In fact, I visit FR almost daily to see what people are saying about current events. But, lately I haven't felt very inclined to participate in the discourse. Observe how viciously attacked people are for any criticism of Bush and Republican legislators. When things have settled down and people decide to debate in a civilized manner I will participate.
Keep dreaming :)
How about we call a truce?
You mean we were at war? LOL. BobJ, I could quote your own words right back at you: "regardless of what it looks like, I mostly banter around with you in jest, so don't take it too seriously."
I thought your sewer and car wash cracks were hilarious.
See, BobJ, that's one of the problems with posting to the internet. The text just lays there. You may post it with completely high spirits, jocularity, and good will and the reader may impute a complete different emotion to it. Folks should know that nearly all of my posts are over-the-top to provoke, but there is never any malice in them and it would be a mistake to read it into them. I'm just a big lovable fuzzball who bears nothing but good will for my fellow man. LOL.
Peace, brother. I'll disappear once more, but this time through the smokey haze of the peace pipe we just smoked...
Citations, please? These are some pretty serious charges, and I'd like to see your evidence.
"I Mixed It Up in the Free Republic Ten Thousand Message Complaint-O-Rama Thread That Wouldn't DieAnd Didn't Get Banned"
You wrote:
I understand it does not have to. I just don't understand why they wouldn't want to, to shut up the people who are implying fraud. I almost gag at the thought of saying this, but if you have nothing to be ashamed of, why hide it. As a conservative, it drives me nuts to have someone say this about government intrusion into private affairs, but I'm not the government and this doesn't seem to be private as it asks for and accepts public money.
The sad truth of the matter is that I fear nothing, including FR supplying all the requested information, would stop those who have been so critical of FR from continuing to be so critical.
Let's understand something. FR is an LLC they are not required to disclose the vast majority of what is being asked for. Z2 has made the implications that some laws are not being adhered to by FR. Why waste that statement here and just notify the authorities? My belief is that Z2's implication is baseless.
You made a polite post. Polite does not entitle you to the information requested. Knowing that, you need to make a decision on if you want to continue utilizing FR. But, MAKE THE DECISION. And once you do, if the decision is not to participate in FR, please resist those who have made it a mission, perhaps even a crusade, to try and "bring down" FR.
I belong to an association that over the past several years has been nuked by a small and vocal group of disruptors, who have seen fit to, when the discussions on the facts were not going their way, to dig through people's personal lives. These same people are are now angry that the association membership is down and the services and programs of the association are not being used, which means loss of revenue. My guess is that some of them wanted to just complain about something and now it is about how the association is not as active. But they know why things are bad. People got sick of the bickering and the fighting and the accusations.
Jim gave these folks a chance to air their views. With that said, I hope that Jim will just ignore their requests for further information. If they feel a need to get the information they so desire, let THEM put up some money and take the matter into the legal system, is my view. But right now, there are a few folks who are what I wouild call "high maintenance" folks. This is what the association I belong to has done. The group of disruptors is entitled to what the Cont and ByLaws say they are and no more. Requests for additional information above and beyond what is required are not being responded to. And the Secretary of the association says it is like a rock being lifted off her chest.
You are so right. You are so right. Great comments!
That was awfully nice of you…I'm sure John appreciates getting your permission to do want he wants.
I have, and I don't agree with your assessment.
Arator darts in and out of saying that he is leaving and then not leaving. It is truly sad to see someone who has such little self control.
Z2 can't stop either I see. Sounds just like one of the disruptors in the association I belong to.
This thread has done one good thing - shown that there are some people who want to see FR fall, no matter what it takes, and how much they dislike, and perhaps even hate FR. It is sad.
Having met IJ and more importantly Mrs. IJ I find that the only appropriate way to respond to your post is with the mantra of the afers "Oh my sides!"
Mrs. IJ is hardly the shrinking violet type and I'm sure she's getting quite the laugh at the notion and characterization of little wimmin'.
Once again for the record....OH MY SIDES!
Eleven months later and they're still holding farewell receptions and popping up all over the place.
Arator is all too clintonesque. I'm sure eleven months from now he'll still be bumping this thread.
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