The objective of the notes is to let people know there is a profit motive for the web site. They can then choose to support that profit motive or not. The web site is not clear that it is being run by a for profit business so it is irresponsible to allow it to be promoted without people understanding the profit motive attributes involved. If you can suggest some text that is better, then please let us know.
No it's not a violation of the forum policy, they are outlined here:
http://www.ronpaulforums.com/showth...ge-Guidelines-and-Other-Important-Information
However, if W. E. Messamore was in some way going to knowingly benefit from promoting this site, even long term, then the polices state that he disclose that in his promotion. The policy states:
+ All users promoting anything they have a vested interest in must disclose this interest.
You are right. Last election cycle a group called "Retake Congress" came here promoting a big fund raiser. They dodged questions and did not disclose their profit motive. They ended up making $20,000 off of Peter Schiff for work that would have easily been done here for free (and had been). Source:
http://www.opensecrets.org/politici...&cycle=2010&name=Common Sense/Retake Congress
Many of us in the grassroots were duped and they ended up with easy cash. Thus, it is our policy that if you are to promote something that you are getting something in return for then you must disclose that. So, we ask for transparency, the free market within the community can then decide. We also do not allow every business to advertise themselves non-stop, which is just taking advantage of the community and pollutes the intent of this grassroots website. Others without any interest can still promote them, but it needs to be clear if there is a profit involved. If you are selling t-shirts then it's obvious there is a likely cut, and owners are welcome to post and promote here. However, if we got 100+ new threads a day about their t-shirt business it would get old, this is why we have our "Commercial Business and Self Promotions Policies".
Fund raising for grassroots projects is a similar issue. If someone is taking donations to buy some push cards to go canvass and the money ends up being used to pay for someones time then that is a problem. Again, this issue is honesty and disclosure. Counter to that, one of our members has a fund raiser to buy a camera lense, so there is an obvious benefit but that doesn't mean there is a problem. The free market can decide to support the purchase or not... and they have.
Fund raisers that require a level of trust however, from individuals that have shown no reason to be trusted, will not be trusted, and again, the policies do not allow them to promote here. This is another area when likely many $1,000s have been taken from the grassroots from dishonest fundraising. So our policy states:
+ Any venture that requires a level of trust may be limited if that trust has not been established.
I appreciate your concern on this difficult issue, it has taken us a lot of effort to try to find a balance between disclosure and the free markets. We are open to ideas on the best ways to deal with assuring we have an informed community and people are not taken advantage of, as what has happened in the past. Thanks so much!
Its because of this bickering that everyone is confused, they think someone is taking a cut of their donation etc.... I understand your intention, however I think the execution is very poor and is really confusing people. Hell the reference to Trevor's site is text buried in the video, its not even a link to the site. Is that a violation of forum policy?
