Saturday Night's All Right For Supporting Reason!
Instead of burning through more pixels on tonight's pitch for you to DONATE TO REASON RIGHT THE HELL NOW, I'll hand the microphone over to Garrett Quinn.
Who is Garrett Quinn? He is a very funny young man who I met at a St. Paul bar called The Liffey outside the Republican National Convention, where he was a Taxachusetts delegate for a cat named Dr. Ron Paul. At the end of every hard-earned convention day, Garrett would find some reason to return to The Liffey, where he would shoot important, Tim Cavanaugh-indicting video such as this:
Garrett later showed up as a contributor to Wonkette, in addition to fighting the day-to-day battle for increasing the scope of liberty in the Bay State, partly through vigorous agitatin' on the Internet. Yes, the kid owes me $20 for betting against the Angels, but I feel like his Red Mass Group pitch for what he calls "a magazine that is near and dear to my heart" is genuine. Here it is:
Reason Magazine is THE leading libertarian publication in the United States and it has not wavered in its undying advocacy for free minds and free markets. There is no magazine I look forward to reading more than Reason: from its fantastic feature stories to the Brickbats to Tim Cavanaugh's coarse Gen X observations on the state of affairs.
Despite the attacks on freedom & liberty during the Bush years and the accelerating march toward socialism in the Obama era many consider this the libertarian moment. At no other point in history have so many people experienced such high standards of living and had easy access to so much. More people are free now than at any point in the history of mankind.
Reason.com, Reason Magazine, and The Reason Foundation need our support now more than ever. If you can please donate to this wonderful libertarian institution. Better yet, subscribe to the print edition for a year, it's only $20.
You heard the man, support Reason today!
Previous webathon episodes: I, II, III, IV, V, and VI. Help us get about as oiled as a diesel train.
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$200 will be donated to Reason if Nick Gillespie will say, in a youtube video, the following, using his normal voice/tone, facial expressions, clothing, and background:
“Let the ruling classes tremble at a communist revolution. The proletarians have nothing to lose but their chains. They have a world to win. Working men of all countries, unite!”
I just noticed that Reason is supported by Towing the Lion.
And also the Jacksonville Jaguars, who are only .500 this year.
A libertarian publication asking for donations? Ah, the irony.
Not only are they beggars, they are also choosy beggars.
Apparently here are so many foundations and corporations that wanted to donate to Reason (Joan Kroc, Archer Daniels Midland), but they had to turn them down, because only the money bathed in Libertarian unicorn tears are worthy of supporting Reason.
True story and not at all because the people at Reason are idiots who cannot even get money from rich people who support their ideology.
“Not only are they beggars, they are also choosy beggars.”
Beggars are ok. Thiefs are not.
Ah, the irony.
How?
I’ll explaion, eds and markus don’t know the difference between voluntary donations and forcible takings. Thus, they think when libertarians are opposed to the state forcibly distributing wealth, they assume that libertarians hate charity.
It’s sad. really. We say we are opposed to rape, and they accuse us of promoting the end of humanity because we are opposed to sex.
No, you promote the end of humanity because you are opposed to sensible gun control.
How do you know that without gun control humanity will destroy itself?
Surely it can’t be from the high homicide rate from the Wild West (hint: it was lower than today). See “The Not So Wild, Wild West”.
A magazine extolling the virtues of free market capitalism that cannot get money from the organizations and rich individuals that support their ideology?
It’s maybe not ironic, but perhaps pewter-ic?
What’s the irony?
There is no dissonance for a libertarian publication to ask for voluntary donations.
MOAR LIEK TREASON, AMIRITE?
Yet again I must say that I’m poor and am unable to contribute.
And asking for donations is all about “voluntary cooperation” and is in no way against the principles of libertarianism.
Fuck off, Mr. Lahey.
Can’t forgive Reason for jumping on the MSM call for the invasion of Iraq and Afghanistan, and their treatment of Ron Paul during his campaign. Sorry, no cookie for you.
Except for how Reason never called for the invasion of Iraq, and such was our treatment of Ron Paul during the campaign (including a favorable cover story), that a few issues after the story you think proves our sin we featured an original essay from…Ron Paul. Also, note delegate affiliation of the person mentioned in this post.
Matt, don’t confuse the child with facts. Scroll down, you did not even slow his jihad of troll.
Seem to recall a few of you were endorsing the invasion of Iraq (Michael Young? being one). How about Afghanistan? What I recall at the time was blasting out emails to Reason and Cato asking why they were supporting the invasion (Afghanistan this time, not Iraq, I’d given up by that time). I also remember smears against RP during the campaign coming out from Reason. I’m I wrong here too? Guess I’ll have to dig back in the time machine.
That donation status board in the upper right of this page looks exactly the same as the one used on Al Gore’s carbon credit website, except there the bar moves down with every purchase.
Donate now or Lady Liberty will be this deep under water!!!
And that is coming from a donor!
Keep giving, fellow Reasoners! Soon we’ll have that torch extinguished under globally-warmed glacial waters!
The laughable aspect is not that the donations are voluntary. It’s that a magazine devoted to entrepreneurial capitalism is non-profit and relies on contributions rather than sales. An irony approaching that of classical Greek tragedy.
Libertarians who rant about “voluntary cooperation” somehow overlook the fact that these contributions are encouraged by the government bribe known as a tax deduction. They also somehow overlook the fact that corporations are government-sponsored privilege, and that non-profit corporations are exempted from various taxes.
I am trying to figure out your argument… are you claiming that without the tax deductibility of donations, nobody would voluntarily donate money to a magazine?
Incidentally, I know of no serious libertarian (as opposed to libertarians of convenience like Glan Beck and Bill Maher) who isn’t aware that state grants of limited liability and legal personhood to corporations, with long-running debates as to whether or not you could even have a limited liability arrangement in a libertarian society.
I’m Canadian. I’ve given money to other libertarian causes in the US, and I don’t receive any tax deductions. So I’m guessing people would give without the tax deduction, though the deduction is nice.
I’m Canadian.
Then go back to your warm smoothies and ketchup covered donuts, eh, and keep your faggot ass away from your computer. Or the computer that’s laying aboot your fat mom’s basement.
“sage”, either contribute something to the forum, or go away.
Mr. Huber, are you of the view that corporations could not exist without government?
Are you of the view that individuals are indcapable of forming associations under which they would do business and contract with others such that others could only look to the association for recourse without the state?
If you are of such a view, your three legged, olfactory challenged hound won’t hunt.
That’s theoretically possible, but the transaction costs would be formidable. It’s much more efficient to have the state create a single category for corporations.
Of course, Mr. Hubris is wrong for other reasons which I detail below.
Indeed, what would happen if a tree on your pseudo-corporation’s property was struck by lightning and fell on a neighbor’s house? A neighbor who your pseudo-corporation never did business with, and thus never needed to sign a limited liability contract with.
Somebody is going to have to pay. Somebody always has to pay.
Your insurance/security company sues in “civil court,” which could be the first 6-12 guys who pass by and agree to participate and are agreed upon by both parties.
Worst-case scenarios include your representatives using their corporate assets to pressure the other party to abide by the arbitration outcome, or visa versa; also, an armed incursion into the neighboring property making sawdust of any woody plants therein.
I really worked myself up with that one. I’ll be in my bunk.
Reason is not “devoted to entrepreneurial capitalism”, it’s devoted to libertarian politics and culture. Obviously there is a high regard for entrepreneurial capitalism in libertarianism, but they’re not the same thing.
And the government taking less of my money than they otherwise would is hardly a “bribe” or a “privilege”, you ignorant clod.
It seems that the great libertarian slayer Mike Huben has taken a break from committing strawman genocide on his website to address us. I recommend checking out his critiques Of libertarianism website for a good laugh.
http://world.std.com/~mhuben/libindex.html
A libertarian publication asking for donations? Ah, the irony.
Your definition if “ironic” could use a little work.
If Welch and Gillespie were on Capitol Hill, asking the government to make a subscribing to reason mandatory (and requiring proof to be submitted with one’s tax return), THAT would be ironical.
P Brooks,
Well, they do take advantage of the government granted privilege known as “copyright”.
I am kind of amused that the attack dogs coming out of the woodwork seem to have ignored that line of attack.
Don’t worry, they’ll apply for stimulus money soon enough.
Or … not?
A weird thing for antagonists to paint this fundraising drive as an example of failure. Over a decade, our revenues are up by at least 40%, and our editorial production (conservatively estimated) has doubled. We are on as firm a financial footing as we have ever been. How many news organizations can you say that about?
How come no captains of industry simply won’t give you truckloads of money then?
If what you’re promoting is so obvious and necessary, then why isn’t Bill Gates and Warren Buffet giving you any money?
Why are you mooching off us poor slackers instead of bathing in gold from Larry Ellison or any other avid supporter of the free market economy?
Because so many of the current “captains of industry” are resnseeking, welfare gribbing, anti-libertatians.
resnseeking rent seeking
Those stupid rich people aren’t real capitalists, like Messrs. Welsh and Gillespie!
I wouldn’t want their money anyway!
Also, the grapes I couldn’t reach are sour!
What you say in jest I say with conviction. Rich people, in general, HATE the free market, because paradoxically (NOT ironically) it’s much harder to gain influence by throwing money around in the market than by doing so in the halls of government.
Wal-Mart wouldn’t last 10 years in a true free market, with no local government subsidies for building new stores and OSHA’s looking the other way on labor law violations.
Wal-Mart wouldn’t last 10 years in a true free market, with no local government subsidies for building new stores and OSHA’s looking the other way on labor law violations.
I suspect that Sam Walton would have been even more successful in a true free market without having to waste resources to overcome multiple layers of conflicting government strangulation.
As would potential Wal-Mart competitors of the future. In a mixed economy such as ours, yes, there are tremendous barriers to overcome to become a dominant player in the market, but once you do that you’re invincible.
This has nothing to do with mixed economy or not.
If I want to compete with, say, google, I will have to build a matching infrastructure and matching hardware/software that will cost a lot of money to set up.
Or because they’re smart enough to not give their hard-earned money to naive idiots like the usual bunch at Reason?
Rich people didn’t become rich by giving away their money to sad beggars.
It doesn’t matter what the totality of their reasons are for not voluntarily donating. I only mentioned one of the big ones, that certainly does not apply to all.
Your deep ‘concern’ for the people who voluntarily donate to a request, without the backing of police power, is both laughable and disturbing.
I’m not concerned, I’m entertained.
This is the best train wreck of a pledge drive I’ve ever seen.
Instead of humility and recognition that those who read Reason are the ones who keep the publication alive, we get humorless and pompous rhetoric how we should donate because “the cops aren’t forcing you to” and how “Reason is fighting for freedom!”
Guess what, sparky.
NPR isn’t using the cops to force me to donate either, and they don’t insult their potential donors with a condescending attitude.
What about Messrs. Welsh and Gillespie begging for money from poor people who haven’t really benefited from the free market economy, because the really rich individuals who have benefited from the free market economy will not support Messrs. Welsh and Gillespie?
Does that register on the irony scale?
Sorry, haven’t stopped by the homeless shelters and bus stops to see the billboards and banners shaming the poor into giving up their pan-handling earnings to Reason magazine. Perhaps if you provided some photographic evidence that would help.
I know you can’t be talking about people with computers, internet connections, jobs and private homes, where this internet blegging is hitting.
“I know you can’t be talking about people with computers, internet connections, jobs and private homes, where this internet blegging is hitting.”
I’d go with “confused students who think Ayn Rand didn’t write bad science fiction.”
Here we go again with the confused masses who need their decisions made by you line. That one never gets old for you people.
If rich entrepreneurs aren’t donating to Reason, then why should anyone?
Trying to convince someone to donate by referring him to “you people” isn’t exactly using the power of persuasion to its fullest.
It would be ironic if in fact no rich individuals who had benefited from a (somewhat) free economy supported Reason. But the premise underlying the claim of irony seems to be that if rich individuals donated, there would be no Webathon.
Is that derived from a more general principle that it is not, or should not, be necessary to ASK for donations in order to receive them, or to substantially increase their rate?
Isn’t it possible that some rich individuals donate in response to this or other fund-raising campaigns?
The fact there are no “sponsored by …” banners or “this program brought to you by…” anywhere on this site, leads me to believe that, in fact, no rich individuals or their foundations or any large corporations have contributed.
The fact that some rich people prefer to donate anonymously leads me to believe that, in fact, at least one rich individual has contributed.
Also, there’s an occasional full-page corporate ad in the paper mag.
So we don’t even know who’s backing Reason financially?
If Reason is a tax-exempt organization, isn’t that information publicly available?
And of course, when someone misuses irony, we must educate people
Bender defines Irony
If we subscribe(!) to the economic hypothesis that many individuals place a higher value, at the margin, on goods and services which they actually purchase at market price, it is possible to capture some of that difference by asking allowing those customers to voluntarily offer ,what they perceive as the “appropriate” price for the value they receive.
We get price discovery; like an auction.
If my second donation’s banner doesn’t make the list, I’m going to be seriously disappointed.
That list is lacking quite a few gems. Is he suggesting that those “donors” bypassed the donation system and added those entries through some hack?
I should have broken my first donation into smaller portions for more banner space.
— Johnny “Our Trust Funds” Longtorso
By no means am I suggesting that the names were added through some hack; the “brain dead script kiddies” comes from a comment left in the original “Is Reason.com supported by Radical Islam” post.
“Towing the Lion” will definitely be added to the list. If anyone has nominees for inclusion, feel free to leave a comment telling me what to look for…
LOL! That is great!
The list has been updated: “Salty Ham Tears” added, too, because it’s an awesome reference.
What about Messrs. Welsh and Gillespie begging for money from poor people who haven’t really benefited from the free market economy, because the really rich individuals who have benefited from the free market economy will not support Messrs. Welsh and Gillespie?
Dear Dumbfuck Sir-
Those people, whoever and wherever they may be, are free to refrain.
See how that works?
Dear pigcunt Sir –
it makes more financial sense to focus on getting one individual to donate US$ 10,000,000 than to try and get 10,000,000 individuals to donate US$1.
Limited resources and all that.
And if the rich captains of industry who actually benefits from the free market economy will not donate to Reason, then why should I?
Those people, whoever and wherever they may be, are free to refrain.
Poor people are too stupid to make their own decisions, so they need eds to protect them.
Rich people are smart, because they won’t give their money to sad, weed-smoking beggars like the Reason staff.
Donate to Reason – all the stupid kids are doing it.
Stick your fist up your ass – all the eds are doing it.
Jerry’s Kids are dead
JB shot them in the head…
And if the rich captains of industry who actually benefits from the free market economy will not donate to Reason, then why should I?
Leaving aside whatever factual errors there may be in your argument, you still have not addressed that pesky “voluntary” issue.
Give, don’t give; I don’t give a shit what you do.
Vary good PB. My supply of troll food is depleated. I pass the torch to you.
If you were to run a charity pledge drive, all of Jerry’s kids would’ve been dead by now.
Keep reaching for that rainbow, you crazy diamond!
I think you all are missing the point. Libertarianism is not what libertarians say it is; it is what dimwits repeating each other’s jokes in the comment threads of anti-libertarian blogs say it is. If they say libertarianism is opposed to voluntary charity and is dedicated to worshipping rich people and advancing the agenda of giant, rent-seeking corporations, then that must be the case. And if Reason acts inconsistently with their stereotype of libertarianism, that doesn’t mean they don’t know what they’re talking about; it means that, on top of all our other sins, we’re hypocrites.
Ah, just like those college instructors who use your articles for their twisted propoganda classes? Just like the people who try to tell me my book characters are based on real people (that they can never identify)?
I will kill time waiting for your response by clutching my guns, praying, polishing my monocle and whipping my slaves volunteers.
“John Tagliaferro|11.15.09 @ 11:42AM|#
Ah, just like those college instructors who use your articles for their twisted propoganda classes? Just like the people who try to tell me my book characters are based on real people (that they can never identify)?”
What are you talking about?
Why should I donate to Reason?
I’m for weed legalization, for free markets, for gun rights, for constitutional right in general, but there are organizations out there doing a much better job than you are.
Just because you like to suck on Ayn Rand’s dead dick won’t make me more likely to donate to you.
So why should I donate to Reason?
Who fucking cares whether you donate?
The idea, I imagine, is that it costs a fuckton of cash to keep servers running. Those of us that read the articles and enjoy comments don’t mind dropping some coin. In an age of Ad Block Plus, there’s few other ways to monetize a site.
So why should you? Who the fuck cares? It’s a voluntary thing, dumbfuck. Donate, don’t donate, continue trying to suck your own dick. What you do really, really doesn’t matter.
Why continue to ask the same retarded question over and over? That’s the real question.
“For Fuck’s Sake|11.15.09 @ 12:11PM|#
Who fucking cares whether you donate?”
The people at Reason.
Why else are they asking for money?
“So why should you? Who the fuck cares? It’s a voluntary thing, dumbfuck. Donate, don’t donate, continue trying to suck your own dick. What you do really, really doesn’t matter.”
Call now for our Reason pledge drive, operators who don’t give a shit if you donate or not may be standing by. Most likely they’re not, because they are cool as fuck and don’t give a shit!
I love you guys, you’re the funniest!
“Why continue to ask the same retarded question over and over? That’s the real question.”
Because I don’t get a good answer?
So why should I donate to Reason?
Because we give you a high-profile venue in which to make fun of us.
I mean, sure, you could start your own blog and post anti-Reason stuff there, but you probably wouldn’t attract many readers. Here you can taunt the Reason audience directly!
With every dollar you donate, you do more to ensure that soapbox will still be here for you in years to come. With time you could become one of our legendary antagonists, the Lonewacko of the decade to come. Isn’t that worth a small donation? Give today!
I have a low estimation of pity, so no thanks.
Kein Mitleid F?r Die Schwachen.
Good, then fuck off. You got the answer you were looking for, so shut the fuck up. You state there are organizations more deserving of your time and money; go to their websites and hang out there.
If reason is so worthless, why are you wasting your valuable, valuable time here? Piss off already.
For the lulz, man.
For the lulz.
In Other News:
Rudy Giuliani is *still* a despicable, slimy piece of shit.
Not even the Harley-riding Libertarian faggots Trey Parker and Matt Stone are donating to Reason during this pledge drive.
This is hilarious!
Not even the Harley-riding Libertarian faggots Trey Parker and Matt Stone are donating to Reason during this pledge drive.
Damn, “Harley-riding Libertarian faggots Trey Parker and Matt Stone” is too long for the banner.
No money or even magic tricks from Penn & Teller to support Reason?
No charity for Libertarians.
No pity for Objectivists.
Among the multitude of things “eds” doesn’t comprehend, apparently, is the difference between the “richly developed commenting community” which calls this place home, and individuals who are actually employed by the Reason Foundation and its flagship publication.
Although, considering his authoritative assertions regarding who is or is not actually contributing, maybe our dysfunctional pal is actually a sleeper agent, put here to goad us into making large(r) contributions.
So is eds the fast-bagging Iowan checkout boy from the other day? Sorry about them Hawkeyes, faggot.
ALL LIBERTARIANS ARE FAGGOTS WHO DO NOT BELIEVE IN DONATING $100 TO REASON
I said it before and I’ll say it again: I’m unemployed and live in my parents’ basement.
Otherwise I’d donate. As currently stands, I need all my funds to buy booze so that I don’t end up killing myself.
My life is awesome.
Fat, drunk and stupid is no way to go through life, son.
I spend a considerable amount of time enjoying this site. I would love to donate to it. It simply is not in our budget at this time. The beauty of Reason is that they respect the choice we all make, whether to donate , not donate, or can’t donate. It ain’t like they are in D.C. with their hands out on capitol hill.
As far as eds(excrement distribution savant) is concerned, he/she/it is the result of internet anonymity. If he/she/it suddenly found themself in a room with the folks they are disparaging, with nametags for all, he/she/it would be cowering in the corner with warm piss running domn his/hers/its pantleg.
Well, if anyone wants to meet me in person, I’m more than happy to oblige.
Nametags and all.
I sent you an e-mail.
Read it and discuss.
Well, I haven’t received, so I have to assume that you’re nothing but a liar, blow-hard, and Internet Tough Guy.
ed – I am forced to assume you are an internet idiot.
If you can’t discern it without someone taking you in hand, I can be reached at cvddgcg@yahoo.com. You? (edsucks@ed.org is where I sent my missive)
There is enough evidence for you to go beyond a mere assumption.
A weird thing for antagonists to paint this fundraising drive as an example of failure.
Getting people to voluntarily send you money in exchange for things they can buy from Reason for less money =/= failure.
I’m guessing that the Objectivists you lured in with the Ayn Rand blitz are largely not responding to this appeal for altruism on their part, but hey, if you can increase your cash flow, good luck with that!
I am Ayn Rand, and I am here to ask you a question: Is a man not entitled to the sweat of his own brow?
No, says the man in Washington. It belongs to the poor.
No, says the man in the Vatican. It belongs to God.
No, say the faggots at Reason. It belongs to us, the weak beggars.
I rejected those answers. Instead, I chose something different. I chose the impossible. I chose…
My own wallet!
A wallet where I would not waste my money on pitiful weaklings.
Where money would not be handed over to the ineffectual and sad.
Where my cash flow would not be constrained by the failure of others.
With the sweat of your brow, the money in your wallet can remain yours, as well.
H&R would be improved by better trolls.
As of late, they (alan, eds, lefiti, et al) suck.
You sound concerned.
Dismissive.
eds, you are by far the dullest troll to pop up in years.
Your concern is touching.
eds is doubleplusgood duckspeaker.
And it just gets better
Just because you don’t know how to send email doesn’t make it my problem.
I should apologize. I’ve really had no life since my boyfriend left me. We were the last two kids at fat camp, and he actually got under heavyweight first…(sniff)
Domain ID:D2890133-LROR
Domain Name:ED.ORG
Created On:24-Feb-1995 05:00:00 UTC
Last Updated On:22-Jan-2006 02:57:22 UTC
Expiration Date:25-Feb-2012 05:00:00 UTC
Sponsoring Registrar:Network Solutions LLC (R63-LROR)
Status:CLIENT TRANSFER PROHIBITED
Registrant ID:6024643-NSI
Registrant Name:Environmental Defense Fund, Incorporated
Registrant Organization:Environmental Defense Fund, Incorporated
Registrant Street1:257 Park Avenue South
Registrant Street2:
Registrant Street3:
Registrant City:New York
Registrant State/Province:NY
Registrant Postal Code:10010
Registrant Country:US
So is edsucks@ed.org affiliated with the EDF? Your guess is as good as mine, which is: no.
P.S. The domain EDF seems to use for email is edf.org; it appears that ed.org is registered by them to avoid confusion from a similar name, which is a common practice.
And here I donated just so I could put something smart ass in the banner.
Holy shit. So much energy devoted to a pathetic, cowardly, basement dwelling, panty-sniffing troll, who is only trying to stall his obese mother from having to give her the back & ass waxing she’s been bugging him about all day.
He’ll be off to LGF when it’s Dad’s turn.
Nononono, you’ve got it all wrong!
Pa goes to freerepublic, I go to dailyKos!
I should clarify. I go to dailyKos when my mom’s in the basement doing laundry. But as soon as she gets her huge girth up the stairs and turns sideways to get through the door, I’m back to surfing for naked studly midget dudes. It’s the best!
I’m living the dream.
Living the dream, man.