As a Non Star Member

[BittyJenkins]

I want to thank EarlG for his hard work that keeps this site going. It is an amazing community and I appreciate everything EarlG and others do keep this community together.

I would be a star member if I could afford it but I can’t with my fixed income.

Thanks again,
Bitty J

[Disaffected]

1. IIRC you only have to donate once per year and

it can be any amount.

[marble falls]

3. Tap my shoulder at the next fund raiser, usually there's a premium of a gift membership to give away.

[allegorical oracle]

41. Thanks for that info. I thought it had to be a monthly commitment -- and I'm

on a fixed income and must replace my roof due to Helene damage that my insurance won't cover. I was really hurt when the site went down and was closed to even being read. Appreciate it more than ever now that it's back up. Thanks, EarlG. I'll try to send something in. I don't have a cell phone, smart or otherwise, so I'll have to figure that out.

[lastlib]

45. Can you go to a public library and use a computer there? n/t

[Faux pas]

2. Kickin for Bitty

[usaf-vet]

44. If somebody would tell me how Bitty would be a Star member before I finish my coffee. It would be my last donation to...

..... our Democracy in and around the 2024 election.

[Faux pas]

46. I'm not an

expert on how to donate for another's membership, I'm sure there is more than one member here who knows stuff

[democratsruletheday]

4. Amen Bitty.....I absolutely LOVE it

and paid up a few days ago after lurking for the last few years. I get it regarding your income, we all do what we have to do. We got your covered!

[servermsh]

5. Oh, the site is back up! yay!

[Alice B.]

6. What you said!

[usonian]

7. I have argued for year-round gift memberships, not just at fund-raisers.

But the site's not a democracy.

More a benevolent dictatorship.

[AKwannabe]

26. lol!

Fuckin A, man

[usonian]

32. It takes me about 5 seconds to drag up some references.

But I always get them right!

[Cha]

8. You can donate a

Dollar & you get a STAR ⭐️

And Yes I Thank EarlG and Elad, too for all they’ve Done For Our Democracy over the last 23 Years!🕯️🕊️💙🌊🇺🇸🌈😇

[EarlG]

9. Hey, I'm really sorry about the last couple of days

We think we have things back under control now (we are still performing testing and there's a chance it might go south again, but for now things are looking good). Thanks for your patience.

[BittyJenkins]

11. Thanks so much EarlG

I hadn’t realized it but this is the spot I go to every morning to make sure the world is okay.
I found other ways to do that but it is so good to be back.

[Bluetus]

23. Even without any changes, this site increases in importance daily

... because of the rapid disintegration of what purports to be the "major media". Most of that, especially the biggest corporate-owned sites (Comcast, Disney, Bezos, et al), is really little more than continuous click-baiting to try to maximize advertising rates. The cable networks all are in competition to see how many minutes per hour can be filled with the most disgusting trash that Trump is offering that day. Love him or hate him, they see Trump as their gravy train.

There is much more to the world than whatever senility makes it past Trump's lips today, and you will get none of that from the major channels. This site is one of the best at curating the 99.9% of the important information that the corporate outlets have no interest in covering.

As a person who has benefited from this for years without having an account, I humbly suggest it is in everyone's interest that this site be funded adequately. I have complete confidence that was the farthest thing from the minds of the site owners/custodians as they were dealing with this technical situation. But I do believe this event has shown just how essential DU has become. So I suggest that there should be a new attitude toward making DU financially sustainable because it truly is what Homeland Security might refer to as "Critical Infrastructure".

[niyad]

35. Welcome officially to our DU family. So glad you decided to come in

from the cold. You are quite correct in saying that DU has become essential. Many of us have felt that way for years, and it becomes more true daily.

[ProfessorGAC]

40. Great Post

And welcome to DU.

[Teacher of the Year]

16. Can we make a donation for her?

[Pinback]

17. Really appreciate the extra effort to keep the site up and running

Many of us remember the election day hack in 2020 and are glad you and Elad have hardened the site.

[usaf-vet]

43. How can a gift a star membership?

[BittyJenkins]

10. Thanks to all of you

I will check out options. §:~ )

[ForgedCrank]

12. My thing

is that I don't trust online payments, it's ripe for fraud and abuse, mainly through the processors I believe. Paypal, venmo, credit cards, all of it. I lose out on a lot due to my refusal to use them, but I just don't like the risks involved.

[niyad]

15. EarlG and Elad actually offer a snail mail option, wherein one can use

a check or a money order. I know, for example, that our own DFW uses snail mail, as did I in times past.

[TommyT139]

19. You're not alone in that

And for some, like Venmo and CashApp, there is not verification of who the other person is, which is why they are the favorites of scammers. PayPal is better in that regard...although it's how Peter Thiel made his oligarchy bucks.

[Skittles]

25. DU does accept paper checks

yes indeed

[ForgedCrank]

28. I never

knew that until today. I may actually do that one day now that I know about it.

[Skittles]

30. I found out one year when I was having a credit card issue

https://www.democraticunderground.com/?com=star&type=mail

[Mr.Bee]

13. Hear, Here!

[Demsrule86]

14. you can buy a star with $1.00 you know...commercials are annoying.

REC'ing you post. EarlG is awesome.

[Self Esteem]

18. Agreed!

[Hpingforthebest]

20. pass it on

i will pay for you to be a start member
how can i do that?

[BittyJenkins]

21. I am not sure how. Thank you so much! This really is a wonderful community.

💕

[Skittles]

31. welcome to DU!

pretty cool, an immediate star member

[jfz9580m]

39. Agreed

And I agree that it would be nice if we could gift donations the year round.

[Skittles]

48. I'm pretty sure we used to be able to do that

I do know we can choose a DUer to receive a star for donating at least $35 during the fund drives which I consider a sweet deal.

[Arrgh]

22. Been meaning to do this anyway

I've been lurking about for around 4 years meaning to join up and this was just a good excuse. I especially wanted to be on board this week and beyond anyway. This is my favorite place to read, so I might as well contribute a bit.

[niyad]

36. Welcome officially to our DU family. So glad you decided to come in

from the cold at last.

[Texas Blue]

42. Done Lurking

I've been a lurker for a number of years as well. This is my "go to" place every morning. I didn't realize how much I missed this place until I couldn't get it. Glad to have contributed to this wonderful site and to all the hard work that goes into maintaining it.

[superpatriotman]

24. Frankly, I've been lost for the past couple days

Thank you for being here, DU!

[Union Label]

27. No doubt

I'm in the same boat. I very rarely post but I read all the time.

[Jit423]

33. I feel you. Me too.

Waiting for my daughter to pay back a small loan for her car payment. I expect to be able to make a one-time payment by the end of the month. This is a great site and helps me keep hope alive.
Many thanks to the administrators for all that they do to keep this site running. Also, many thanks to all the members for their insight and political acumen.
Going to vote in person on Tuesday, taking four family members with me. It will be their first time voting.
Hope we all have a great day Tuesday!!

[jfz9580m]

38. Hi Jit423

Good to have you on board

[republianmushroom]

34. Agree, thank you , Betty.

[Jack Valentino]

37. Welcome back!!!!

[JPPaverage]

47. I'm on SS

And I'm a star member. There is no minimum. I gave not that much and get all the privileges of star membership.

[Backseat Driver]

49. Welcome to DU - a family of Democrats fighting for truth, respectful civility, and good governance

for all Americans. When we vote, we win and/or at least those of us who keep trying to be better open-minded Americans meeting that challenge in an ever-changing diverse environment. I'll bookmark and await giving some heartwarming Valentines early in the historic Year of Our First Woman President. Harris/Walz, which I hope to be a factual outcome of this election. Hope to see and hear from most of you of whatever age as time passes through that period of peaceful transition and into her Inauguration.