When it comes to the 2016 version of Reason’s annual Webathon—in which we ask loyal readers of this website to donate whatever tax-deductible funds they can to the 501(c)(3) nonprofit that publishes our award-winning journalism—I have some good news, some more good news, some bad news, and some…weird news.
The first good news is that today is the final day of the Webathon, so no more loud rattling of the tin cup, and it’s back to the business of providing the best libertarian journalism and commentary we know how to make. The second good news is that as of yesterday afternoon around 1 p.m. ET we were almost exactly on our record-smashing pace of one year ago, with 850 donors contributing $121,000, compared to 832/$128,000 at that point in 2015 (on the way to a ridiculous 1,682/$246,000).
The bad news is embedded in those last numbers—we need to haul ass on this last day to get anywhere near our goal of a cool quarter-mil. Which brings me to the weird news, though we’d already foreshadowed it yesterday: We will stop at no level of self-debasement today to convince you to chip in, including, beginning at noon ET today and extending until Nick Gillespie has completed his full transition to late-’80s Jerry Lewis, a Facebook Live Telethon whose degradations we can only currently guess at. Ask us anything, hurl insults, make unseemly requests, just make sure to bring along your wallet.
DONATE TO REASON, RIGHT NOW, OR ELSE!
Let’s review our arguments to date:
1) Because we’ve reached a record number of people with our work, including doubling our audience for Reason TV videos in just one year.
2) Because we are “detrimental to the safe, secure, and orderly operation of” prisons.
3) For correcting the journalistic record on guns.
4) For subjecting the top presidential candidates to intense, ideas-based scrutiny.
5) Woodchippers.
6) Podcasts (and podcasts, and podcasts).
7) This video:
8) Debunking mainstream media falsehoods.
9) Free-speechin’.
10) For helping Venezuelan Bitcoiners and teen sexting-hysteria victims.
11) Because we covered the living hell out of the Libertarian Party presidential campaign at your request.
12) For defending freedom, on Sundays, on MSNBC.
13) Inviting you people to give your worst to Elizabeth Nolan Brown, Jacob Sullum, and Brian Doherty.
14) Men’s large space-cat T-shirts.
15) We talk about surveillance even when nobody else does.
16) For redesigning the magazine so purty-like that the federal government’s former undersecretary of Emergency Preparedness and Response Michael Brown tweeted this:
It’s like a HGTV makeover! #fabulous https://t.co/hiz4P4bo6l
— Michael Brown (@MichaelBrownUSA) December 5, 2016
These 16 arguments are necessary but not sufficient. You need some testimonials from your fellow readers who broke on through to the other side and donated, using the opportunity to provide feedback. Here is a selection from their comments:
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Reason.com revolutionized working in a cubicle for me—sure it’s still soul crippling but Reason is like gentle balm on my bleeding pride. Love the content and the community.
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Woodchippers and free markets!
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Do something about the squirrels!
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I am so proud of being “‘[d]etrimental to the Safe, Secure, and Orderly Operation’ of Prisons” and helping to “promote drug paraphernalia” that I just can’t stand it.
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This magazine has been a beacon of hope that reason and reasonableness will prevail, and from that beacon freer minds and markets will emerge. Keep up the good work!
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Keep fighting the good fight! Lurkers may be, well, lurkers, but we’re out here, quietly judging, and we admire what you do.
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Reason is great! I look forward to another year!
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keep up the fight for free minds and free markets
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Kmele for president 2020!
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For Reason doing its part to get Trump into the White House!
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The abysmal nature of this past election cycle drove this lifelong liberal Democrat (daughter of a staunch FDR Demo) into the arms of the Libertarian Party. Determined not hold my nose and vote, yet again (see Dukakis, Gore, Kerry), I turned to Gary Johnson. Following his daily email updates led me to Reason.com.
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I am a Republican but like to read your articles.
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In the age of Trump Reason is needed more than ever. Latest issues by KMW have been really interesting!
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Please, for the love of Odin, just hold POTUS accountable & stay unbiased. Thank you for what you all do.
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I love reading your generally level-headed, rational analysis and the uncommon perspectives you bring to a variety of issues. I figured throwing a Benjamin your way for all of that free insight was the least I could do. Thanks and keep up the good work.
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Huge fan of all things Reason and even when I do (rarely) disagree with writers, I know they are being honest. SINCERELY thank you for not using clickbait headlines and Facebook posts. You are one of the last holdouts. #Kmele2020
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Thank you for your excellent work. Only agree with you sometimes, but journalism is necessary to the functioning of a well-ordered mind and I’m pleased to support your excellent work.
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Thanks for providing one of the most entertaining news sites on the Web. I also appreciate the unfettered nature of the comment boards.
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Please avoid the 4-letter words on Reason.com. It makes it difficult for me to recommend to friends.
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Kill the Squirrels!
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Kmele Foster 2020! I don’t know if you guys fund The Fifth Column podcast but you should, it’s great! Thank you Reason!
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I am already a subscriber. And you are still asking for money. But here I am giving it because you guys are the only ones who give a flying you-know-what about freedom and liberty and blah blah blah. Keep up the good work. But I am not made of green, so stop all this crying.
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Sorry, there must be a speck of dust in my eye…
Seriously, I’ve been working in this field for 30 years now (gulps heavily, refills glass), and I can testify that at least 99 percent of my colleagues out there just cannot know the pleasure of working for an audience this smart, funny, independent, and true. You know our faults and limitations and biases, and you also appreciate that we advertise them, and work our asses off (with your prodding) to transcend them. It’s an honesty of exchange almost unheard of in modern media.
And so I can honestly say to you: Bro, we’re short. As I prepare to hit “publish,” with the sands running out of the hourglass, the Webathon stands at nearly $150,000 from 1,010 donors. Let’s start out this morning by quickly zooming through 2014’s count of 1,178 total donors, and then recalibrate in a couple of hours as we gird our loins for the Telethon. Come on, dudes and dudettes, let’s make the magic happen! And prepare to hit us with anything at all, beginning at noon ET on Facebook Live.
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