Free Republic

This thread is for the purpose of discussion regarding fundraising efforts. Free Republic is sustained by voluntary contributions. There is no paid advertising and, hence, no pop up or banner ads. We all know, and hopefully, appreciate this. We all also know of the quarterly fund raising campaign, a.k.a. the Freepathon. Love ‘em or hate ‘em - this is how a great deal of the money is obtained to pay expenses. Some of us know of the monthly donor option. We can elect to have an automatic deduction made from a credit card account. There have been some private discussions...

Two days before it is scheduled to complete a $95 million deal to preserve the scenic Hearst Ranch, the Schwarzenegger administration still has not made public its estimates about how much the landmark purchase will cost taxpayers for new park rangers, maintenance and other expenses. --snip-- If Schwarzenegger officials stick with a rule they approved earlier this year aimed at curbing costs for new state parks, they would have to reject the Hearst deal because of its operating expenses. Or they could accept the deal, and keep costs down by closing Hearst's beaches to the public, which would be unpopular....