Do you think FOR-PROFIT businesses should be allowed to promote in grassroots forums?

[born2drv]

Please vote.

[ronpaulyourmom]

If it helps Dr. Paul, then I don't care one way or the other. People are capable of making decisions for themselves.

Full disclosure on the part of the poster would be very nice though.

[constituent]

yes. though i don't profit from any of my endeavors, so if you're looking for a big FREE little lance project to get behind please start submitting stories to ronpaulnation.com or help pitch-in for freeme.tv upgrades (don't worry, i won't see a centavo)... no one is making anything and everyone works very hard to bring the newest and best content, so if the non-profit model is yours of choice, we could use your help.

[WilliamC]

Greetings All,

So long as they are honest about who they are and what their goals are (besides supporting Ron Paul) I have no problem with it.

William C Colley

[lynnf]

yes. though i don't profit from any of my endeavors, so if you're looking for a big FREE little lance project to get behind please start submitting stories to ronpaulnation.com or help pitch-in for freeme.tv upgrades (don't worry, i won't see a centavo)... no one is making anything and everyone works very hard to bring the newest and best content, so if the non-profit model is yours of choice, we could use your help.


NO! it can only dilute the cause and turn some people off for no good reason other than someone else's profit. although Ron Paul isn't opposed to profit, it shouldn't come at his expense!


lynn

[Mark Rushmore]

it shouldn't come at his expense!

I think most people can tell in about 2 seconds whether a site or idea is trying to take advantage of Ron Paul's name to turn a profit - or whether it is really a matter of people trying to offer goods/services that are much needed by the grassroots to the grassroots. Just an opinion.

[Bruehound]

I've reported this thread. This anti blimp stuff is very juvenille because it won't stop. Please stop.

[born2drv]

Greetings All,

So long as they are honest about who they are and what their goals are (besides supporting Ron Paul) I have no problem with it.

William C Colley

So let's give a hypothetical here.....

If someone comes here and says in plain language that they want to send Ron Paul to the moon for publicity and are collecting donations --- 90% of which are going to their salary to manage this trip to the moon, it should be allowed to be posted here and take away from the time, energy, and money of our grassroots?

Would you be comfortable with allowing some enterprising people to make a large profit off of Ron Paul's supporters?



Here's another hypothetical.....

What if someone says they're trying to raise $5M for Paul and only intend to give themselves a $1,000 salary.. very frugal, right? But they're unknown to anyone here and they've set up their legal language to explain you're donating to a for-profit company and no refunds will be issued?

Would you trust some random person to collect millions of our supporters dollars? Would you be comfortable with someone setting up a corporation to shield them from personal lawsuits and legal language to ensure they're not entitled to refund anyone any money and possibly defraud our supporters?



I'm not accusing anyone here of anything. I really don't know what's going on, etc. with some of these projects. I'm just saying some things are better off left as small projects, with volunteers, PACs and traditional, legal means to ensure 100% of resources we contribute go towards our candidate and nothing else. That's what a grassroots movement is all about. If someone wants to start some large for-profit enterprise perhaps they should do it on their own accord and not ask for support from individuals in the name of "freedom" or "Ron Paul", etc.

[kotetu]

If it brings in money that supports the site, and that money helps Dr. Paul's campaign, I am all for it.

[pcosmar]

I would welcome everyone. Business owners are welcome to support Ron Paul.
Are you opposed to a free market?
Are you opposed to Capitalism?
I see nothing wrong with someone providing goods or services that support Ron Paul and his message, and earning a profit while doing so.
I would be opposed to a scam that preys on supporters. As long as the Business is providing what is advertised I see no conflict.

As always, Buyer Beware.

[LBT]

Wake up to the world of advertising.

If a business can do well at providing an advertising function, using voluntary means, regardless of its classification by government as a business, organization or PAC, then good luck to them.

If a company makes money then it is evidence that they have satisfied their clients, and the natural result is that they will do more of the same and strive to be better and more efficient.

Most of the whiners need to start doing what Ron Paul started doing 30 years ago. Read some economics. Economics in One Lesson is available online for free.

If you don't understand the principles of that book, then you are not educated on economics and should stop refering to government propaganda (school education views) as your source of perspective on the issue.

Freedom means choice which includes voluntary transactions. No business succeeds without finance and good employment is not free. It is ludicrous not to permit full time activists the right to at least recuperate their costs of living when the dedicate themselves full time. No campaign expects their staffers to do so.

This is a new experiment in campaign promotion. It may be revolutionary, and it is more just than FEC type promotion allows in many ways. Let it be tried and then see what lessons can be learned.

[Dustancostine]

Technically once it becomes for-profit it is the same as spam. J

[xexkxex]

Let the Ron Paul supporters decide how to spend their money.

This is considered free market and freedom of choice....right???

:)

[Mark]

So let's give a hypothetical here.....

If someone comes here and says in plain language that they want to send Ron Paul to the moon for publicity and are collecting donations --- 90% of which are going to their salary to manage this trip to the moon, it should be allowed to be posted here and take away from the time, energy, and money of our grassroots?

Would you be comfortable with allowing some enterprising people to make a large profit off of Ron Paul's supporters?



Here's another hypothetical.....

What if someone says they're trying to raise $5M for Paul and only intend to give themselves a $1,000 salary.. very frugal, right? But they're unknown to anyone here and they've set up their legal language to explain you're donating to a for-profit company and no refunds will be issued?

Would you trust some random person to collect millions of our supporters dollars? Would you be comfortable with someone setting up a corporation to shield them from personal lawsuits and legal language to ensure they're not entitled to refund anyone any money and possibly defraud our supporters?



I'm not accusing anyone here of anything. I really don't know what's going on, etc. with some of these projects. I'm just saying some things are better off left as small projects, with volunteers, PACs and traditional, legal means to ensure 100% of resources we contribute go towards our candidate and nothing else. That's what a grassroots movement is all about. If someone wants to start some large for-profit enterprise perhaps they should do it on their own accord and not ask for support from individuals in the name of "freedom" or "Ron Paul", etc.
.

QFT


I remember just a few days ago someone was called out just for having an affiliate link in their sig.
.

There are a billion places on the web to start promoting a business.

.
Why would someone come to little 'ol RonPaulForums.com to start their business?

.

Well, there is a lot of real money floating around. Lots of causes. Big things happening. Tons of new people everyday.

.
What in the world about those things would someone who wants to get money for their personal business be interested in?

.
There has to be a limit drawn somewhere, else the place will become overrun with a million people trying to buy sell and even cheat and defraud.

.
The forum has worked very well so far as a family who works together for a common goal.

.
Now is not the time to be interrupted and deluged with every John and Jane with a personal agenda to promote.

.
The common thread among all activities here has been the unifying force of one purpose.
'
Unselfish volunteering without personal interest in mind to get Dr Paul elected.

.
We're here to do ONE thing. Put Dr Paul in The White House.

Anything that distracts from that is a hindrance.

.
And extra, easily avoidable hindrances are something we and the campaign

can ill afford to deal with at this critical juncture in the campaign.

We need every bit of time, and every bit of forum space to arrive at our goal.

.

[LBT]

So let's give a hypothetical here.....

If someone comes here and says in plain language that they want to send Ron Paul to the moon for publicity and are collecting donations --- 90% of which are going to their salary to manage this trip to the moon, it should be allowed to be posted here and take away from the time, energy, and money of our grassroots?

Would you be comfortable with allowing some enterprising people to make a large profit off of Ron Paul's supporters?



Here's another hypothetical.....

What if someone says they're trying to raise $5M for Paul and only intend to give themselves a $1,000 salary.. very frugal, right? But they're unknown to anyone here and they've set up their legal language to explain you're donating to a for-profit company and no refunds will be issued?

Would you trust some random person to collect millions of our supporters dollars? Would you be comfortable with someone setting up a corporation to shield them from personal lawsuits and legal language to ensure they're not entitled to refund anyone any money and possibly defraud our supporters?



I'm not accusing anyone here of anything. I really don't know what's going on, etc. with some of these projects. I'm just saying some things are better off left as small projects, with volunteers, PACs and traditional, legal means to ensure 100% of resources we contribute go towards our candidate and nothing else. That's what a grassroots movement is all about. If someone wants to start some large for-profit enterprise perhaps they should do it on their own accord and not ask for support from individuals in the name of "freedom" or "Ron Paul", etc.
That is just fear of the unknown.

Fact is the promoters of this event have proven themselves to many people to be hard working activists, not simply strangers asking for money. A stranger would be unlikely to garner much support.

Let the people who donate judge their own risk based on the evidence at hand. Such as the fact that Trevor Lyman's efforts on the November 5th appeal broke fundraising records, and that he worked hard on this and other projects almost full time for a month with no financial reward. In fact at considerable personal cost.

[WilliamC]

Greetings All,


So let's give a hypothetical here.....

If someone comes here and says in plain language that they want to send Ron Paul to the moon for publicity and are collecting donations --- 90% of which are going to their salary to manage this trip to the moon, it should be allowed to be posted here and take away from the time, energy, and money of our grassroots?

Would you be comfortable with allowing some enterprising people to make a large profit off of Ron Paul's supporters?

Here's another hypothetical.....

What if someone says they're trying to raise $5M for Paul and only intend to give themselves a $1,000 salary.. very frugal, right? But they're unknown to anyone here and they've set up their legal language to explain you're donating to a for-profit company and no refunds will be issued?

Would you trust some random person to collect millions of our supporters dollars? Would you be comfortable with someone setting up a corporation to shield them from personal lawsuits and legal language to ensure they're not entitled to refund anyone any money and possibly defraud our supporters?



I'm not accusing anyone here of anything. I really don't know what's going on, etc. with some of these projects. I'm just saying some things are better off left as small projects, with volunteers, PACs and traditional, legal means to ensure 100% of resources we contribute go towards our candidate and nothing else. That's what a grassroots movement is all about. If someone wants to start some large for-profit enterprise perhaps they should do it on their own accord and not ask for support from individuals in the name of "freedom" or "Ron Paul", etc.


Arrg, I had a good reply going and lost it when my account timed out.

To be brief, the moderators of this forum will decide who they allow to post or not. If they don't want advertising for a "for profit" fundraising then they don't have to allow it. I'm personally only donating money to the campaign directly and writing letters to Iowa. But I do realize that it is possible for "for-profit" fundraising to tap into donors that otherwise wouldn't donate. As long as there is transparency and honesty and no fraud, I'm not against "for-profit" fundraising for the Ron Paul campaign. People should be free to give their money to whom they choose.

Instead of sending Ron Paul to the Moon, why not send Hillary Clinton to Mars? Oh wait, that's already been suggested ;)

William C Colley

[ggibson1]

Capitalism is how you create a self feeding engine. If someone out there wants to hire people full time to create a well oiled machine to push forwards the Ron Paul agenda then great! That is what America is all about.

Anti-capitalism is called socialism... you know ... Hillary...

And if it allows us to not have to live within the limits of PAC rules or other such rules then all the better. FULL steam ahead with all efforts until victory is achieved.

[Mark]

That is just fear of the unknown.

Fact is the promoters of this event have proven themselves to many people to be hard working activists, not simply strangers asking for money. A stranger would be unlikely to garner much support.

Let the people who donate judge their own risk based on the evidence at hand. Such as the fact that Trevor Lyman's efforts on the November 5th appeal broke fundraising records, and that he worked hard on this and other projects almost full time for a month with no financial reward. In fact at considerable personal cost.
.

This is a very dangerous area for the "official grassroots movement" to venture into.
.

The potential blowback from a misstep in uncharted territory

is easily avoidable by keeping all efforts focused on our one goal.

We have neither the time, forum space, or energy to spend on anything other than 110% related Dr Paul projects.

.

If someone wants to promote their business, that's wonderful, of course,

anyone would have to be insane to claim

that anyone on this board is against that.

.

We just know that this is not the time or place for it.

.

There is absolutely no argument that someone could come up with both a good idea for Dr Paul, and a good way to make money at the same time.

.
Please note however, that EVERYONE HERE AT THIS FORUM is engaged in volunteer, not for personal profit, projects for Dr Paul.

.
That's the way it's been,

and the forum has flourished and become a magnificent plethora of miraculous ideas.

WHY CHANGE a WINNING FORMULA NOW?

.

Promote projects that make money for your business 24/7 for all I care,
.


but, the volunteer, not for personal profit, type people who have

ONLY ONE GOAL, TO GET DR PAUL ELECTED

.
Would greatly appreciate it if you please let us have our little forum to do our best work at this VERY DIRE HOUR.

.

If we don't succeed, no one may even have a world worth living in,

.
VERY much less a world in which to promote personal businesses.

.
You can have the WHOLE REST OF THE WEB to sell your wares.

but please,

just leave us un-paid volunteers this little forum to do our work.


.
I personally don't come here to wade through ads for someone's business, and be their audience,

.

I'm here to get Dr Paul elected President of These United States Of America.

.

That's all we ask.

Just this one little forum.


.
Please, have the whole rest of the INTERNET TO YOURSELF.

.

[ronpaulyourmom]

I guess we cant promote dailypaul.com either then.

[Mark]

I guess we cant promote dailypaul.com either then.
.

DailyPaul wasn't built on this site.

It provides great news and things,

but it's at DailyPaul.com, NOT RonPaulForums.com


Hey, I've got an idea!

.

Why don't I or someone just create a forum for for-profit Paul Projects?

.

That way, they have their own site, and the non-profit and profit efforts

don't have to compete for VERY RARE space and time on a single forum.

.
Isn't that a fair compromise?

.

Both groups have their separate forums,

their OWN forums,

so our efforts aren't intertwined and interchanged.

.

Or even, the for-profit groups could have their own separate sub forum here!
.

That way, everyone interested in what people who are making money at promoting Dr Paul are doing,

can just go to that one sub-forum to find out!
.

Like we have for other specialized areas!
~

The grassroots section for the old timer's non-profit critical work,
!

and a "grassprofits" section for the grassprofit group!
.

[constituent]

well, i have a for profit business i'd like to promote....

if you are an educator or have kids/grandkids, friends w/ kids
who you would like to purchase books for PM me.


you know, while we're at it.

[JMann]

I have no problem with for-profit folks. I wouldn't buy from them but in order to have a free market you let anyone and everyone participate. If you voted no maybe you should consider looking at little Denny Kucinich as he may be much more in line with your beliefs.

[Mark]

I have no problem with for-profit folks. I wouldn't buy from them but in order to have a free market you let anyone and everyone participate. If you voted no maybe you should consider looking at little Denny Kucinich as he may be much more in line with your beliefs.

Is it okay with you to keep both types of efforts in their own personal area?

Like we have for all the other different areas?

Just, keep Grassroots, Grassroot non-profit like it has always been,

.
and then also have a "Grassprofit" section for more complicated profit scenarios.


How's that?

I suppose we just ask the mods to please start a new "Grassprofit" section.

What's wrong with that?

[TruckinMike]

Default Do you think FOR-PROFIT businesses should be allowed to promote in grassroots forums?

As long as they are "on Topic" I think its a good thing. Heck My thread would be moved if it was off topic. Treat this issue like gays in the military --- if they or anybody else causes a disruption -- boot'em out. Follow the same rules we follow.

TruckinMike

[pcosmar]

.

DailyPaul wasn't built on this site.

It provides great news and things,

but it's at DailyPaul.com, NOT RonPaulForums.com


Hey, I've got an idea!

.

Why don't I or someone just create a forum for for-profit Paul Projects?

.

That way, they have their own site, and the non-profit and profit efforts

don't have to compete for VERY RARE space and time on a single forum.

.
Isn't that a fair compromise?

.

Both groups have their separate forums,

their OWN forums,

so our efforts aren't intertwined and interchanged.

.

Or even, the for-profit groups could have their own separate sub forum here!
.

That way, everyone interested in what people who are making money at promoting Dr Paul are doing,

can just go to that one sub-forum to find out!
.

Like we have for other specialized areas!
~

The grassroots section for the old timer's non-profit critical work,
!

and a "grassprofits" section for the grassprofit group!
.

So you you are opposed to a T Shirt manufacturer or a sign company offering there service here, just because they make a dollar.
I don't understand that mentality.
If someone has a product that can be used to promote Dr. Paul, you want to exclude them because they are in business.
Volunteering is great, but most folks still have to make a living.
The grassroots section is for any promotion of Ron Paul that is not the connected to the "Official" campaign.

[pcosmar]

Just, keep Grassroots, Grassroot non-profit like it has always been,

When has that been.
I see Ron Paul getting elected as a net PROFIT.
I hope to gain Freedom.

[reduen]

I like the idea if they have their own section on the forums. Free Market Baby!

I just hope that they would be Ron Paul supporters!!

I propose that these businesses must submit a $2,300 campaign donation reciept in order to list on these forums. (Make it so.)

[Mark]

So you you are opposed to a T Shirt manufacturer


No, of course not. It gets very busy on Grassroots if everyone posts here.

Have you noticed the ton of specialized forums here?

Each with their own angle?

What's wrong with having a Grassprofits forum for that special angle?

[Mark]

When has that been.
I see Ron Paul getting elected as a net PROFIT.
I hope to gain Freedom.

That hypermetaphysical philosophical reasoning

has nothing to do with making MONEY promoting Dr Paul.

MONEY is the kind of Profits we're discussing.

[Ethek]

If the Ron Paul campaing assumed roll over this project they would simply 'hire' the existing coordinators to make it happen. Nothing would change except many would be barred from contributing as much as they would have like.

I can't fault for the way this is being set up. The most important thing is to get this in the air.

[Mark]

I like the idea if they have their own section on the forums. Free Market Baby!

I just hope that they would be Ron Paul supporters!!

I propose that these businesses must submit a $2,300 campaign donation reciept in order to list on these forums. (Make it so.)

QFT!!!

Me too!

And of course, the grassprofit forum would only be for people making money off of Dr Paul's name.

[Mark]

If the Ron Paul campaing assumed roll over this project they would simply 'hire' the existing coordinators to make it happen. Nothing would change except many would be barred from contributing as much as they would have like.

I can't fault for the way this is being set up. The most important thing is to get this in the air.

What project? RonPaulForums.com?

[pcosmar]

That's hypermetaphysical philosophical reasoning

has nothing to do with making MONEY promoting Dr Paul.

MONEY is the kind of Profits we're discussing.

What have you got against making money?
I agree that a business that is NOT promoting Ron Paul has no place in Grassroots.
What is wrong with someone selling goods or services that DO support Dr. Paul presenting those goods or services to other supporters.
Money is good. I would like some too. If I had more I could donate more.
Everyone needs money.

[Ethek]

What project? RonPaulForums.com?

The blimp project. The blimp project has its own subforum and I assume this is the primary motivation behind this thread.

[free.alive]

It would be nice if in regular posts they only pointed to either a website or more detailed posts and discussions which were in a dedicated subforum for RP supportive businesses.

[MozoVote]

The AYEs seem to have it on this vote.

C'mon. We've seen sign and T-shirt vendors come here and offer proposals. As long there is no deception, it shouldn't be such a big deal.

[Ron Paul Fan]

Yes, this is a free country. It's supposed to be anyway.

[Meatwasp]

My sons and I talked about how nice it would be to make custom or duplicate items of jewelry
with ron Pauls name on them like cuff links and tie tacks earrings ect and give part of our profits back to the campaign.

[pcosmar]

The blimp project. The blimp project has its own subforum and I assume this is the primary motivation behind this thread.

Oh no, not more of that shit again.
If you want to support it, then support it.
If you don't want to support it, then don't.
But SHUT UP.

[EvilNight]

I support this idea, HOWEVER! I think it would be wise to cage all for-profit activity into a subforum. We all like this forum the way it is now and if it starts filling up with commercial stuff (and that is likely if Ron ever goes Viral) it'll interfere with our business.

Also we WILL see spammers and scammers. It's inevitable. Better for us if those flamewars don't clutter up the general grassroots section.

[pcosmar]

I just don't understand the Anti-Capitalism motivation of this thread.

:confused::confused:

[Mark]

What have you got against making money?
I agree that a business that is NOT promoting Ron Paul has no place in Grassroots.
What is wrong with someone selling goods or services that DO support Dr. Paul presenting those goods or services to other supporters.
Money is good. I would like some too. If I had more I could donate more.
Everyone needs money.

Do you just not read my posts, and just make up words to put in my mouth?

You said that you considered a RP win to be a profit, and I said where talking about money profits.

Why would I or anyone be against making money? That's silly.

It's GREAT to make money using Dr Paul's name isn't it?

Again, for the THIRD TIME I'M ASKING. The THIRD TIME.

What's wrong with keeping NON PROFIT Projects in one forum (Grassroots)

And have a Grassprofit forum for PROFIT Projects?

It seems very reasonable and logical to divide into specialized areas like we do ALL THE TIME?

Why do you insist an using ONLY Grassroots Forum?

Wouldn't you LIKE your own forum?

[MozoVote]

Also we WILL see spammers and scammers. It's inevitable. Better for us if those flamewars don't clutter up the general grassroots section.

That is a good point. While the movement was small, most people trusted each other. I would not be surprised if we learn about a chip-in that ends up in Russia or Nigeria before the campaign is over.

[Mark]

The AYEs seem to have it on this vote.

C'mon. We've seen sign and T-shirt vendors come here and offer proposals. As long there is no deception, it shouldn't be such a big deal.

Yeah, like Romney "won" the strawpoll too.

Think it possible that some have MORE THAN ONE ID?

There are a LOT of new accounts all of the sudden praising the blimp for one.

[pcosmar]

Do you just not read my posts, and just make up words to put in my mouth?

You said that you considered a RP win to be a profit, and I said where talking about money profits.

Why would I or anyone be against making money? That's silly.

It's GREAT to make money using Dr Paul's name isn't it?

Again, for the THIRD TIME I'M ASKING. The THIRD TIME.

What's wrong with keeping NON PROFIT Projects in one forum (Grassroots)

And have a Grassprofit forum for PROFIT Projects?

It seems very reasonable and logical to divide into specialized areas like we do ALL THE TIME?

Why do you insist an using ONLY Grassroots Forum?

Wouldn't you LIKE your own forum?

If you go back to the very beginning of this forum, there were signs, stickers, DVDs, etc. offered for sale to supporters.
It has ever been.

[MozoVote]

I thought voting was restricted to people with more than 10 posts?

(Actually, I got the impression that a lot of the new accounts were infiltrators from Wonkette than want the blimp to fail.)

[Ron Paul Fan]

I just don't understand the Anti-Capitalism motivation of this thread.

:confused::confused:

I also don't really understand why people would be against freedom. The freedom message brings us together, it doesn't divide us. So if someone wants to set up a business to make a profit, I would think that they would have that freedom and that all of us would agree that they have that freedom. But 1/4th of the population on here apparently doesn't want people to have this freedom. Freedom!

[McDermit]

I don't care if they're allowed to post here or not, but they shouldn't get pissed at us if/when we point out that they're profiting off the cause. There are PLENTY of supporters giving away materials, selling at or below cost, donating all their profit to HQ, and donating all of their time and efforts without expecting a thing in return. I'd prefer to deal with those individuals over anyone who is in it to make a profit... so it would be nice if they were somehow designated as such.

A seperate forum for for-profits would be nice. We'd probably have people trying to cheat that system though, so it may not even be effective.

[Mark]

The blimp project. The blimp project has its own subforum and I assume this is the primary motivation behind this thread.

Yeah, what's the issue with that. There already IS a forum about the blimp.

I thought we were talking "in general" about ALL businesses.

Shoot, The Blimp has it's OWN SITE now.

Why not just start a Blimp Forum on the Blimp site?

Build it and they will come.

LOTS of site ideas have started here like the Blimp.

And once the idea matures enough the organizers start their own site and go from there.

I hope the Blimp Organizers don't plan on announcing things in Grassroots all the time like before until they reach $350,000.

What if that takes MONTHS?

For the Blimp to succeed it's site has to be mature, and a forum for nuBz to come visit and talk about the Blimp would be perfect.

You don't really want to have to post links to RonPaulBlimp.com, and then have to link to RonPaulForums.com to discuss the project do you?

That looks VERY unprofessional to a first time visitor to RonPaulBlimp.com.

You want to keep the visitors on YOUR site. If they come here, they have too many other things to draw their attention,
which will draw their attention away from the Blimp Project.

Absolutely, everyone knows a site has to have it's own forum.

Just start a forum at the blimp's site and keep your visitors focused on the Blimp.


The Blimp idea has grown enough to have it's OWN site now,

Just build it's OWN forum there now too.

Seems logical to me. RonPaulBlimp has a BlimpForum.

Build it and they will come and all that jazz.

[seapilot]

Well technically it is not a pledge or donation but a purchase now. Since they dont seem to need any help from Grassroots now on planning etc, maybe they can have a ronpaulblimp.com banner link instead of a discussion forum.

They have covered most the questions on ronpaulblimp.com and people can contact them directly instead of posting a billion questions here that have already been asked and answered and if someone is purchasing air time they will probably be taken more seriously in their suggestions and concerns.

[Mark]

That is a good point. While the movement was small, most people trusted each other. I would not be surprised if we learn about a chip-in that ends up in Russia or Nigeria before the campaign is over.

EXACTLY. and the last thing Dr Paul needs is some scandal associated to his name.

The MSM would go wild over it and it might just bring down our growing, but still fragile campaign.

NOT WORTH THE RISK PERIOD!

[RonPaul2012grassroots]

I get to see plenty of red ink where I'm at.

If I didn't 'make a profit' then this activity wouldn't remain viable and sustainable, and folks wouldn't be able to get the best prices on the absolutely highest quality Ron Paul promo materials anywhere.

[Mark]

If you go back to the very beginning of this forum, there were signs, stickers, DVDs, etc. offered for sale to supporters.
It has ever been.

Right. EXACTLY what I said.

Projects form and grow, and when they mature enough they start their OWN SITE.

[RonPaul2012grassroots]

What's most notable on this thread is the absolute lack of criticism directed at the 'official' printer for profiting quite handsomely.

[Mark]

I get to see plenty of red ink where I'm at.

If I didn't 'make a profit' then this activity wouldn't remain viable and sustainable, and folks wouldn't be able to get the best prices on the absolutely highest quality Ron Paul promo materials anywhere.

NOT FOR PROFIT then.

Grassroots is EXACTLY where your non-profit project should be promoted.

Please just don't start spamming the board with tons of separate threads about it,

because then it becomes spam.

[Mark]

I thought voting was restricted to people with more than 10 posts?

(Actually, I got the impression that a lot of the new accounts were infiltrators from Wonkette than want the blimp to fail.)

Yeah, so what? Someone can start a new account and have ten posts in 2 minutes.

Actually, you should try asking a serious question about the Blimp one time.

You'll be inundated with tons of new accounts following your every move and assailing with vigor every word you type.

It's the exact opposite of what you said.

[Mark]

What's most notable on this thread is the absolute lack of criticism directed at the

'official' printer for profiting quite handsomely.

??? There's an "official printer"? Here? What kind of "printer"? A printing business?

[enjerth]

Do you think FOR-PROFIT businesses should be allowed to promote in grassroots forums?

I couldn't find the "hell yeah, what a stupid question" option.

[rfbz]

Do you think FOR-PROFIT businesses should be allowed to promote in grassroots forums? Please vote.

As long as it is stated as such and it's relevant to promoting Ron Paul.

[rfbz]

By the way, just because an organization pays its staff for its work does not mean it's mission is for profit. Profit is what's left over after all costs are taken into account, and an employee wages are one of those costs. Non-profit organizations aren't just made up of people who all work for free, for example.

[Visual]

Yes they should be allowed to talk in grassroots, but I wont give them any of my money. I refuse to pay anyone's salary that isn't in the offical RP campaign organization.

[Man from La Mancha]

Looks like we got 31% socialists on these forums that don't like profit and people making things better while helping themselves provide housing and food for themselves so they can donate all their time to helping Ron, pure genius. The true Ron Paul examples of being self reliant and responsible. LOL

.

[James R]

I voted yes because the administrators gave the blimp project its own special forum. I don't think they should, as a for-profit company be allowed in the main grasroots board. But as far as I know they do not do that.

Please take note that I've calculated their apparent profit margin to be under 3% based on their stated budget. However, after you factor in lawyer costs and a possible search light truck, it would appear their profits will far closer to 0% than they will be to 3%.