My Prediction

[Bodhi]

OK. Thank you. Point received. I'll be waiting for your project with no over-head costs. When you have it done I'll donate. Until then please stop trying to derail the existing project.

Nothing against you but this is a grassroots campaign. We don't have "over-head" costs because we have supporters who are willing to support Ron Paul for free. We may have to pay to get our ad out, but we don't have to pay for people to make that ad.

 

[Maverick]

OK. Thank you. Point received. I'll be waiting for your project with no over-head costs. When you have it done I'll donate. Until then please stop trying to derail the existing project.

I like your suggestion. However, I don't think we need a second blimp project. We just need this project to reconsider its expenditure model. For mutual benefit. To reassure the potential donors, and to insure that the magnificent blimp can be underway with all due speed.

 

[Abobo]

There are many things that have been done without cost. People send out stickers at cost (zero profit) People have designed and printed T-shirts at cost. If what you are describing as overhead is the actual cost of operating the blimp then I agree with you. Nothing is free of cost when it comes to a service or product and I was all for the blimp until it became a for profit effort. I would also like to point out that for profit goes above and beyond the salaries they are requesting, they are also looking to make a profit above that. I am not saying that it won't cost anyhting to fly a blimp but they do not need a LLC and 8 salaries to hire a blimp, that is just rediculous.

Yes, I know what you were talking about. But if you feel it is ridiculous then please create a better one. I'm tired of all the complaining about the existing one. If you feel you can do a better job please do it. When you've got it up and running please let me know.

 

[vodalian]

Don't like halliburton's profiteering? Make your own energy company then!

 

[Maverick]

When you've got it up and running please let me know.

When this one is up and running, let me know.

 

[ctb619]

Don't like halliburton's profiteering? Make your own energy company then!

Yes, because they got the no bid contracts in Iraq simply because they are a very capable and efficient company -- everything was legitimate and aboveboard.

 

[Abobo]

Don't like halliburton's profiteering? Make your own energy company then!

Listen. If you think this project can be done without the lawyers and the full time staff then please create an alternative. The people who tried creating it seem to think it can't be done by pure grassroots and that it needs a full time staff.

If you think that is wrong then please try doing it yourself.

 

[Bodhi]

Yes, I know what you were talking about. But if you feel it is ridiculous then please create a better one. I'm tired of all the complaining about the existing one. If you feel you can do a better job please do it. When you've got it up and running please let me know.

It is more than easy to ask for money on these forums. Those that want to make a profit from it do not get my vote.

 

[OferNave]

Hey - a blimp project representative has started a thread, and is answering all questions:

http://www.ronpaulforums.com/showthread.php?t=46258

 

[BrianK]

He's right

Derailing? Did you even read the original post?

Seriously, if my few relevant replies in a thread which was created to challenge this project have caused you guys to not be able to plan or organize, I think the problem lies with you guys, not with me.

I disagree with you on thinking this a bad idea but, those of us that are for this blimp need to remember that there is nothing wrong with accountability. Please understand though that this project, if it gets off the ground, will probably have just barely made it fundraising-wise. Even if you don't think they should get the salaries for what they are doing, which I admit is a valid point of view, don't you want to see the blimp go up. The media knows about this, if we fail to get it up there, its 1 more bullet for the MSM to fire at us.
The only ones who will get paid if it does not go up are the lawyers. Everyone else gets paid with whats left after they manage to get it up. Really think about it. Is that really a deal-breaker for you. I'm not asking you to stop posting your concerns. That goes counter to the entire notion of this movement, just asking you to give it a second thought

 

[Indy Vidual]

Right, and noone is saying that you CAN'T direct money from a grass-roots movement to live off of, but that doesn't mean you should.

There is a strong demand in the marketplace for everything related to Ron Paul.
Profit-making ventures can boost the grass-roots, more $$$$$ will come in.

 

[Bodhi]

I disagree with you on thinking this a bad idea but, those of us that are for this blimp need to remember that there is nothing wrong with accountability. Please understand though that this project, if it gets off the ground, will probably have just barely made it fundraising-wise. Even if you don't think they should get the salaries for what they are doing, which I admit is a valid point of view, don't you want to see the blimp go up. The media knows about this, if we fail to get it up there, its 1 more bullet for the MSM to fire at us.
The only ones who will get paid if it does not go up are the lawyers. Everyone else gets paid with whats left after they manage to get it up. Really think about it. Is that really a deal-breaker for you. I'm not asking you to stop posting your concerns. That goes counter to the entire notion of this movement, just asking you to give it a second thought

Welcome brand new member, glad to have you here. I think if the blimp could go up at cost, there would be a surge in donations. However, this has turned into a for profit enterprise and most people won't go for that in my opinion.

 

[Indy Vidual]

How much was the discount...?

Nobody is telling anyone how to spend their money, only pointing out the fact that this idea has turned into a huge wasteful project and that there are those trying to profit from something that is supposed to be grassroots. If your belief is that there should be a separate, for profit, advertising company where 8 people are paid hansomly to hire a blimp then by all means that's your freedom of choice.
the truth is that to hire a blimp really does not require all of that. It requires the money to pay the company who will fly the blimp and for somone to tell it where to fly and what message should be printed on it, the rest can all be handled by volunteers of which there are many who would step up to the plate.

You make some very good points about saving money.

We've been told they got 'a discount' on the blimp rental charges.
Does anyone have an idea how much was saved, has that been discussed?

 

[vodalian]

There is a strong demand in the marketplace for everything related to Ron Paul.
Profit-making ventures can boost the grass-roots, more $$$$$ will come in.

How will paying people large chunks of money to support Ron Paul result in MORE money? They aren't selling Ron Paul statues, they are taking money from a pot that would normally go into rallies and activism and putting it in their pocket. A lot of people agreed to donate before they even knew where there money was going. If it was just the regular expenses with a bit of cash on the side for the trip, it would be one thing, but paying all of these people 1k per week out of the money that would normally go into activism is messed up and should be challenged until the end. We aren't talking about a few dollars here and there, we are talking about LARGE chunks of cash that is now no longer going to the campaign/rallies. Any real supporter should be concerned about this.

 

[BrianK]

I don't disagree

Welcome brand new member, glad to have you here. I think if the blimp could go up at cost, there would be a surge in donations. However, this has turned into a for profit enterprise and most people won't go for that in my opinion.

You're absolutely correct that it will be harder to get money for this in it's current form. Nobody is debating that fact. I still want it up there.

 

[Bodhi]

You're absolutely correct that it will be harder to get money for this in it's current form. Nobody is debating that fact. I still want it up there.

There are a ton of people that want to see it up there, but I think many of them are like me. I would be more than happy to send that blimp up, but I sure as heck am not going to pay anyone a salary to do it.

 

[Indy Vidual]

Remember, remember the 5th of Nov?

How will paying people large chunks of money to support Ron Paul result in MORE money?...

The biggest donations will (logically) come from people who are maxed out from giving to HQ.
``````````

• Remember, remember the 5th of Nov?
• We got millions in free advertising, and over 22,000 NEW donors.
• People saw Ron on TV, were amazed about the $4.3 Million, and some came here to volunteer.

Edit:
When main street can make money of off the movement, then the movement will become mainstream.

//This (above) might be a 100% original statement; I don't recall hearing it before.
Has anyone else ever heard it before?

 

[vodalian]

The biggest donations will (logically) come from people who are maxed out from giving to HQ.

Yeah, and it's a shame really. It's sad to see that people have run out of ideas to the point where they are willing to just starting paying 4k per month salaries to random people in forums and over $100-$500 per hour for lawyers instead of spending that very money on Ron Paul rallies, flyers etc.

 

[Abobo]

Yeah, and it's a shame really. It's sad to see that people have run out of ideas to the point where they are willing to just starting paying 4k per month salaries to random people in forums and over $100-$500 per hour for lawyers instead of spending that very money on Ron Paul rallies, flyers etc.

It's because we believe the value of the blimp and staff is greater than the cost.

Value > Cost

I, and I think most others who donated, believe that the value of the people in the cities seeing the blimp plus the MSM attention will be greater than the cost of the blimp. All these people seeing and talking about it will be greater than TV or radio ads. Or at least that is what I think.

Maybe they can cut a few thousand here or there. But in the end this is an extremely big project and we can't expect it to be perfect optimized right out of the gate. The value of having the blimp is still greater than the extra money.

 

[Constantinople]

I agree with Bodhi and vodalian and the rest. Although I am not maxed out with the campaign, I will likely be on 16 Dec. After that I was considering donating to the Blimp. I will not be doing that now.

I support Free Markets and all but what would I really get for my investment? Ron Paul Blimp Co. cannot guarantee a return on my money--i.e., Paul's victory or even that my advertising time would reach the market, for instance if your paid time is used in transit over the countryside.

Compare this to Lyman & Co.'s return...1K salaries everyweek! I only make half of that...and successful moneymaking venture irregardless of the outcome of the election.

If Trevor Lyman & Co. believe there is a market for the blimp, they should be taking out a LOAN for the startup costs. Then the market can decide and they can bear the costs for failure and the benefits of success without relying on other people's money.

Only a LOAN in their own name will keep them honest.

I believe in the free market but that doesn't mean I should feel compelled to DONATE to another man's personal money making ventures. Nor should anyone.

The money can be better spent in ways where the whole sum goes toward Ron Paul & the campaign. For instance the money raised could put a full page ad in USA today every week this month.