How much is Democratic Underground worth to you? (PLEASE READ)

[Skinner]

$5 $25? $50 $250?

The average American spends four hours a day watching television. The average cable bill in America is $40 per month. How much time and money do you spend on television? What do you get in return? Anything?

How much time and money do you spend on movies, DVDs, CDs, books and magazines in a year? Probably hundreds of hours and hundreds of dollars.

How much money do you spend on coffee? A Starbucks grande cappuccino is $3.10 (tax not included). How many of those do you drink in a year?

How much money are you willing to spend on the things that you enjoy? How much are you willing to spend on the things you consider important?

What is Democratic Underground worth to you? Can you even put a price on this place? Every day people tell me that Democratic Underground is their lifeline. It's an oasis of sanity in a world gone completely insane.

Democratic Underground is absolutely free. If you want to spend hours of your time here, you aren't required to pay one cent. And in fact, many people do spend hours and hours here without paying anything. We like it that way, because we want our community to be open to everyone, regardless of their ability to pay.

But unfortunately, someone has to pay. Because running this place is expensive. You may not feel like donating, for whatever reason. Fortunately for you, there are other people who do donate and provide you with this place. You are reading this message right now because of their generosity.

Surely this place is worth something. It may not be worth the same to you as TV or movies or coffee. But it's got to be worth a few bucks.

If you agree, I hope you will take a moment to donate to Democratic Underground right now.

Thank you.

David Allen
(Skinner)
Democratic Underground Administrator

[Wonk]

1. kick

on edit: this wasn't pinned yet when I kicked it...

[SheepyMcSheepster]

2. kick!

thanks wonk, tricked me into kicking a pinned thread that will always appear at the top of GD. :silly:

[Cleita]

3. Ask me how much my husband and I spend on prescription

drugs and health care, and you have my answer why I can't dig any deeper. Good luck in your quest though.

[Skinner]

6. We understand.

We don't want anyone to donate unless they can afford to do so. Your health is much more important.

[Unperson 309]

15. Wish I Could've Afforded More...

Still, I'm damned lucky to have what I do! A good place to live in, a partner who loves me, a car, my job, my column, my computer and this place!!

By the way, is there a history to DU? How and when it was started and by whom? I have a column coming out (in a national magazine) before the elections (we run quarterly) and I *might* be able to mention y'all, along with a link. My content each issue is decided by my editor, but I think I can wiggle a mention or two into the text along with the URL. If I have background it might be easier to configure it.

You have my e-mail if you want to send it privately.

309

[ozymandius]

20. Check the 'About' page

http://www.democraticunderground.com/about.html

[heidiho]

4. I Would Be SOOOOO Lost Without You

and that's why I always donate. If I ever woke up one day and found you gone, I would miss you like an appendage!

You are always my sunshine in lots of otherwise dreary days in America since GWB stole the office of the president.

[outinforce]

5. It's In The Mail

Sent it yesterday.

[xultar]

7. It is worth more than you know! I just donated... n/t

[lapauvre]

8. Damn! Great message.

You do make one feel accountable. You've heard of the widow's mite I am sure. So pardon me for the widow's mite. I have a tooth that hurts like hell and Medicaid would let me get it pulled, if I could find a dentist willing, for $25. Well, I don't have $25. But I do have $5. Since I have to stand the pain anyway, why not, seriously, send it to you. So I will. ha ha.

I just bought a gallon of milk which last month cost %3.29. Today it cost $3.74. It would be cheaper to drink gasoline, of course, if it helped with osteoporosis. Unfortunately, gasoline does not help, and is lethal besides--and it probably doesn't go too well with oat flakes.

Be that as it may, an amusing story happened when I asked the store manager why the price of milk had gone up so much. Were the cows on strike? Had the cows joined a union? Were the cows in need of terrorist protection.

His answer,was that it was right before my very eyes, it had been talked about for months. Really? I decided that right before my very eyes, I did see the correct answer, it is within the upraised middle finger of either one of my hands.

So you are going to get my five bucks, as did John Kerry.

Please don't take it as an insult. You are worth much more than that to me. It's going to take a bit. Don't have a credit card, but I WILL do it. I'll figure it out. Be patient with me.

Love you all.

[Unperson 309]

16. Fear not, Lapauvre

I had tucked an extra $10 onto what I'd planned on donating... I wasn't sure why, but now I know. It's in your honor! :)

I'll offer a prayer for you and for your toothache, if you'll allow me. :)

You are all my new friends and I love every one of you!

309

[lapauvre]

33. I am very honored. Thank you.

Thank you so much.

[vetwife]

18. Sorry for your toothache

I know what a tootache feels like and my son who is 35 could not get anyone under 200 to pull his and he pulled it himself and really messed up. This is ridiculous ! For three days been trying to find him an emergency dentist...the hospital won't do anything and I just buried my Mom. I think I am ready to start protesting about this separating teeth from the rst of your body ! It angers me so !

Vetwife
Take Care and don't pull your own tooth !

[lapauvre]

34. I don't have the guts to do that.

Number one. It is not abscessed, number two. I have no signs of infection, number three. But I know what you mean.

You have a son who is far more courageous than I. His tooth was probably infected. I can't imagine pulling this one out of my head, and the pain is bearable. I have relatives who have gone through this more than once, and at times, we have had to take up a family collection to get the job done. Unfortunately, this has not worked for my 47 year old United States Navy veteran son, who is starving to death and continually sickened by the infection emanating from his broken off teeth. He is 6'1" tall and weighs 128 pounds. He is disabled and been denied disability twice by Social Security. I do not know how he got through the last abscess, but he did, using wet cloths heated in the microwave for the pain and swelling. His is alive at the moment. I fear for him.

And who says the poor can't find a computer laying on the sidewalk that works?

As usual, in our society today, I have no answers for you, and no way to help. I am sorry. The only suggestion I have is, if infection and fever have appeared, get him to an ER. Don't worry about the bill. Let them eat it. Infected teeth, abscessed teeth, are close to the brain and meningitis is a possible, and known to me to have occurred, exportation of the infection.

Please, watch your son closely and use the ER. I think they have to see him, at least for an antibiotic.

Good luck. With complete realization of how lucky I am and my son has been, you have my utmost compassion through understanding.

[Lastgasp]

9. Life would be empty without DU . . .

I will donate my usual modest amount. Tell me, Skinner, is that a Chihuahua decorating your post? If so, you and I share a passion for the breed.

[northofdenali]

10. Goodness, Skinner, what a great appeal!

So far, you've gotten 3 6-packs of Alaskan Amber outta me! And, pending this months bills, possible a whole case!

Couldn't live without DU. :loveya:

[Old and In the Way]

11. It's worth more than I'm paying.......

but I have to Budget for the 9,000 other progressive causes, Kerry being the #1 beneficiary of my discretionary funds. I'll ratchet it up after the election.

:-)

[cjbuchanan]

12. Thank you

To everyone that gives, I say thank you. This place is just amazing. I am so thankful this place is here.

Skinner, thank you for all the work you, and the other administrators, do.

I only wish I had more money to give.

To all who have yet to give, give a little, it will make you feel better. Plus, you get a great bumper sticker. Go for it.

[MGKrebs]

13. I am really looking forward to seeing what DU will be like

once we have a DEMOCRATIC PRESIDENT!

At least in part I hope we will be the Rapid Response Team, refuting bullshit wherever it may appear, shining a light into the dark and dangerous corners of conservatism, and fighting for truth, justice, and the American Way!

(It is impossible to put a value on this place. I hope you guys are proud.)

[meow mix]

14. i donated for once, yay me! but its in the snail mail. i dont believe in

credit cards, or banks for that matter. hope money order is ok ;p

[vetwife]

17. If you order Take it Back Cd.....10 percent proceeds go to DU

Other proceeds go to The Guy James show. This too is a way to
help Democrats Underground !

This is a Motivational Get out the Vote CD to TAKE THIS COUNTRY BACK AND AWAY FROM GEORGE W BUSH !
order at http://cafeshops.com/focusgroupnow.9200633
or at The Guy James Show website
Please help this site and folks like Guy James. Please drop me an email as I am starting a list..if you order and will send your name to this site as helping. Thank You.
Should we sell enough, we can really help this site, keep Guy on the air and get the message out !

[e-mail]

:kick:

[drfemoe]

19. I have an idea ..

What if, instead of pulling the advanced functions (AND sigs!!) for members when the server starts to overload, you restrict guests' access. Guests could then roam free on the Home pages, but not get into the forums, when the servers are too loaded.

I know you like a lot of visitors. I also read in ATA that you didn't think we were very thrilled with the added features during the last drive when they were added. I got the opposite impression. Many folks posted thrilled thank you's in ATA as each new feature came online. I posted kudos. The advanced features REALLY added to the enjoyment of using the site.

I've been a little angry today that donating (and non-donating) members are being denied advanced services (AND sigs!!), while curiosity seekers and assorted freepers are overloading OUR system. It's the 'principle'.

Not being a website admin, I can't evaluate it from your perspective. FWIW ..

[foreigncorrespondent]

21. I really would love to donate...

...to DU, and if I had the money I would. Unfortunately though, I am currently facing eviction if I don't some how come up with this months rent.

Believe me, if I was looking to buy a DVD, looking to connect cable, or had the plane fair to travel to where there is a Starbucks, I would take that money and donate it here.

I really wish I could help. You don't know how bad I feel every quarter when the fund drives come up and I am not in a better financial situation than I was in, with the previous fund drive.

[TexasBushwhacker]

22. I'm unemployed, and I donated ...

but I'm lucky because I'm a tightwad and I have savings.

It's May. It's spring. Have you done your spring cleaning? Maybe it's time to have a DU garage sale, or just to raise money for ALL your favorite causes. Make your "trash" someone elses "treasure". Have voter registration cards available that people can fill out and you will send for them, in fact, carry a small stack of voter registration cards with you at all times.

[foxy]

23. Much appreciation to all that donate

I greatly appreciate it as much as the rest of us who cannot afford to donate at this time.

Thank you.

[lcooksey]

24. And don't forget the monthly option

If you can't afford $50 now, but you can afford $5 or $10/month for the next 6 or 12 months, sign up for the monthly option on the donation page.

Every dollar counts!

:kick:

[DemExpat]

25. It is worth more than I can give too.....

for DU is one of my vital life-lines that keep me connected and sane!

:kick: :kick: :kick:

DemEx

[tnlefty]

26. Is this a trick question?

As I'm not one of those 'latte-swilling, SUV drivin', wealthy elitist' types, there is no way that the amount of the check that I wrote could reflect the value of DU to me.}(

[Nimble_Idea]

27. How much is DU worth?

DU is worth alot.

[Andy_Stephenson]

28. A...

Dollar two ninety eight...You have to be from the South if you don't understand.

But a helluva lot.

[Jack Rabbit]

29. Jack Rabbit says DU is a 24-carrot site

I contribute to DU. So should you.

[JohnLocke]

32. LOL (nt).

[gandalf]

30. Just donated. + spread sheet example

Thanks skinner, EarlG and Elad for this excellent site. It would be nice if more people donated, I think, regarding the high number of registered users.

Here is a calculation example:
44000 Registered user names
0.7 Multiplicator to take into account multiple registrations of the same person
30800 Registered persons
0.2 Share of users who visit DU each day
6160 Number of users who visit DU each day
0.2 $ per Day and daily user
1232 $ per Day

How many of the users visit DU each day? If for each of them this place was worth 0.2$ a day, theoretically 1232$ per day could be raised. After all, this place is quasi ad-free.

[duhneece]

31. DU is my sanity

And I gave when I was full-time at $16.50 an hour and when I was on unemployment, but I am now working 20 hours a week at $10.00 an hour and am struggling to keep my head above water.
I appreciate y'all so much and will donate when I can.
Thank you, DU and thank you to all who are donating.

[Spazito]

35. Kick

for the net's best site!