Post in tax payer cost of this forum. is it worth it?

PK

On 10/23/06, Paul Kuettel <kuettels@gmail.com> wrote:
>
> Hi All!
>
> Darned if I ain't conflicted by this.
>
> As an early member of the St Paul and Mpls E-Democracy forums as well as
> MN-Politics (which I THINK is a related venture) I have enjoyed end
> exploited the opportunity to sound off, knowing that at least SOME local
> opinion leaders would be reading my blather.
>
> That said, I guess I was naive to think that the whole thing was a
> volunteer effort with some non-profit support for hosting and a stipend for
> Steve and Tim, who as far as I know are the two main founders and steerers
> of the forums.
>
> So I am a bit surprised, at least at first, that Roseville needs to invest
> $6000 to support this thing.
>
> To be perfectly honest and blunt, the older forums have had their ups and
> downs.  I got kicked off Mpls a few years ago and never bothered to re-up
> because it was simply a left-wing echo chamber, but St. Paul usually has a
> bit more give and take.
>
> Nevertheless, to this day, the St. Paul forum reaches 427 people and only
> a couple of dozen regularly contribute seriously.
>
> It the cost to Roseville were to be divided by the number of members
> current (136) and potential, $6000 seems a bit lofty.
>
> Another factor to to take into account is the wildly growing Blogosphere
> where everyone gets to have a free soapbox and has the potential of
> reaching, hypothetically, millions of people.
>
> Still, this format is a more local and direct give and take -- where the
> discussion is "pushed" into your mailbox than just all of us blogging
> "pushing" into the ether and counting on our target audience to find us.
>
> So I now have talked myself into a circle regarding the topic.
>
> E-democracy is a good concept and deserves a chance.  The paid help need
> to eat.  It a community values offering this sort of thing, I guess the
> oughta pay.
>
> What do I care, I live in Falcon Heights (smiley)!
>
> Cheers!
>
> Paul K
> South of the Border.
>
> Read my blog: http://www/wogsblog.com
>



--
Paul Kuettel
Falcon Heights, Minnesota

See my site: http://kuettels.com
Read my blog: http://wogsblog.com