Many years ago, during a fundraising appeal, a reader wrote and asked me, “Why is NR a charity?” Why can’t the magazine stand on its own two feet? Can’t we free-marketeers find a way to make a profit?

No. That’s not the way the opinion-magazine business works, evidently. We’ve always had to sing for our supper. We’ve always depended for our continuation on the kindness of strangers, or rather, the kindness of friends, readers, and well-wishers.

William F. Buckley Jr., our founder and leader, said, “We exist to make a point, not a profit.” Profit-making is a marvelous thing; so is point-making, of the right kind.

We at NR don’t hold these fundraising appeals because we want to; we do it because we have to, to keep going. That’s why I donate (money as well as articles): to keep the enterprise going.

More than a writer for National Review, I’m a reader of it. I read every issue of the magazine and every day of the website. I would not want to live without NR. One could, of course, but I wouldn’t want to, or like it.

I don’t agree with everything that’s published by NR. That would be weird, if only because we often publish writers who disagree with one another. Most of the articles, I like a lot. Some I’m indifferent to. A few make me ralph.

So what? I have a smorgasbord to choose from, continually.

More and more, websites are charging for their articles. At least, that has been my observation. You get a few free ones per month, then you have to subscribe. We’re not doing that at NR. But I feel I should still contribute my mite.

NR meant a lot to me when I was coming of age, politically. It still does, of course, but it meant a whole lot then. I want other people to have NR available to them, as they come of age. I want NR to be part of their reading diet, a part of their education (outside the classroom).

So, when I donate to National Review, I’m not merely donating so that I can continue to read. I’m donating so that NR is available to others, particularly those who are wondering what to make of this big, messy, argumentative world.

You see? My donation to NR is an act of charity, in more than one sense! Thanks for considering your own donations (and if you’ve contributed in the past, thanks a ton).

Just one more thing: I often said of Bill (Buckley) that he and his confreres did not teach me what to think but how to think. I believe that NR provides the same service today. Which is extremely valuable.

Thanks again and see you later.