I agree. Others have suggested a fee for posting and I think that would be the first thing to try. Posting meaning both replies and articles for the same fee. Charging for access to the site would be self defeating and would relegate us to preaching to the choir. Among other things, lurkers are looking for information and validation of their conservative stands. The posting fee could also encompass vanities with maybe a limit per month and a limit on their length. Vanities can be informative and thought provoking. Maybe it is the length rather than their frequency that is costly. Suggest posting fee of $5.00 per month. This should supplement contributions and not replace them.
There are something like 50,000 registered members of FR. Jims nut is say 75 grand a quarter. That means if every "conservative" contributed it would cost everybody a buck and a half per quarter or 6 bucks per year.
Unfortunately less than a thousand of us pull the cart while 49,000 ride for free. Sadly, we are a microcosm of America despite all of the lofty rhetoric.
I'm staying and as long as Jim stays they can keep billing my credit card for as long as I'm on the right side of the dirt.