WOO-HOOOO!!! I Just made my FIRST Donation to DU. Here's why we all must

[seventhson]

The Bush economic disaster and corruption ended up plunging my family into serious economic hardtimes. On top of that we have medical issues which require lots of money every month and we lost our insurance when I lost my last job due to corporate corruption (I was a whistleblower to a crooked Bush and Republican-backed hostile takeover of my employer - people went to jail and were fired and I was basically just "let go")

My story is like Millions and Millions of Americans.

Fortunately for me I have a degree and a trade and had, after years of battling for my employment rights and to vindicate my name, the ability to pull myself up by my bootstraps with the humongous help of more fortunate family and friends. I was deeply in debt but at least able to work.

But without health insurance and enough capital to really get going the way I need to (you need resources to make money), all our income gets eaten up every month, usually before the next check arrives.

I have busted my ass. My wife took a job which is really beneath her credentials but pays well - part time, and even now my 14 year old daughter works (she paid the internet bill last month and got to "control" it). She also bought my wife's necessary medication because, in part, crooked Republican policies had delayed my payments for work performed.

We were no longer one paycheck away from disaster. Like millions and millions of Americans we were two or three paychecks INTO the disaster - behind, possibly never able to catch up (unless things turn around) and sinking deeper into debt.

I DO have a book contract, but the meager advance is used up and the book is still not done and no more checks are coming for awhile there (and who knows if it will sell?).

So -

TODAY I am not too bad off. I got a check (two actually)for work done months ago, repaid my beautiful hardworking daughter and have the money to repay part of what I owe friends/family and actually relax a little. Go to a few country fairs and let my nine year old get a "bracelet" so he can ride all the rides he wants for a change.

See a movie.

And CONTRIBUTE to DU.

I see DU as the most important political board which has ever existed because it adheres to the strategy of open dialog on issues which are NOT the stuff the mainstream media is covering. We get the back stories. We get personal accounts (Mari333 comes to mind with her kids' experience in Iraq and her "war" to protect them from harm).

Often I get the news here first about things I would never otherwise hear about.

I am certain that MANY media types check in here several times a day to look for stories and spin.

And DUers can research, unspin, debunk and "DU this poll" without match.

No one does what DU does.

I have had conversations here with brilliant writers and political folks and even those in the spotlight: Chris Heinz, Skull and Bones author Alexandra Robbins, Will Pitt, Symbolman.

I have posted here and been quoted not only by the neanderthal idiots at Freeperland attacking me but also by Mike Malloy and political websites around the net.

This is a magic place and it is the BEST Place I believe I could contribute to help get Kerry and Edwards elected. To DEFEAT Bush!

To rid the world of the BFEE and forever prevent future LIHOPS and MIHOPS and FUBARS!

Today my resources are limited but I can manage a modest contribution for the FIRST time to DU BECAUSE I believe this place is one of the last best hopes we have.

If Bush wins or steals this next election I believe it is only a matter of time before places like this are forever shuttered and banned - or made so expensive that it will be impossible to communicate.

My fears have been enhanced extremely since December 2000: we are falling under a fascist dictatorship which is gradually subsuming all our rights and will creep and slime forward if we do not stop it.

DU is one of our last best hopes.

It is not much that I donate today.

But it means a lot to me. It is my last best hope.

[slackmaster]

1. I just donated for the first time today as well

n/t

[Eurobabe]

2. we're half-employed in my household

but I sent some $$ to DU as well. It's worth every penny to be imformed. :)

[Jo March]

3. That is awesome.

Your story is so touching and like so many others I'm sure we never hear about.

Your daughter sounds lovely and generous - something that she inherited from you, I'm sure.

This board means a lot to many people and donating is the only way to keep it going. This refuge is important to many who seek to escape the spin.

Thank you so much for your story. It was elegant and eloquent.

Bless you and your family.

[masshole]

4. made my first contribution yesterday

to celebrate the fact I FINALLY landed an interview for a decent job after I-can't-count-how-many futile attempts.
Wish me luck.

[Wickerman]

5. Good luck Mass

hope it all works out for ya!

[masshole]

9. thanks

It's been tough, but my wife has busted her pretty little hiney, working OT whenever she can. She's an RN, and come August 23 she may lose her OT pay.

That would be just what families like ours need - more "time" together to spend sitting at the table trying to decide on which bills to pay, choosing whether the kids get desperately needed new clothes for school or if we fix the car that's about to fall apart.

And we know we are sooo much better off than so many others. We know how fortunate we are our decisions haven't yet been whether we buy food or keep the electricity on.

[Catfight]

6. I sent them the amount I usually pay for the New York Times, I cancelled

the Times because they are leaning too far to the Right for me. So instead, I get all my news here at DU and just sent them my subscription amount I usually pay NYT. I feel VERY good about that since this has become such a great source of the latest news from all over. Plus, I can't WAIT to get a bumpersticker!

[soothsayer]

8. you oughta' drop them a line saying as much

Might be nice for them to know.

[Catfight]

10. Who? the NYT's or DU?

[swag]

7. Great Rant - I think Donors get the "Search" function and other

extra stuff.

Anyway, I applaud your generosity and your patriotism.

And as I think everyone here understands, we'll probably be DUing a lot more after the election than we do right now, regardless of outcome. If Kerry wins, the puke-smears will no doubt reach beyond even what they tried to do to Clinton. We'll have to find effective ways to fight them and to get the focus of government away from attack and back to service to the people.

We'll have to continue our efforts to restore the performance of the media to the proper and essential role of a free and actually informative press (probably the biggest and the hardest job).

We'll have to work hard on the state and local level to ensure strong and functional states and communities.

I know that at least half of the people on DU will be working to make the Democratic Party pay a bit more attention to constructing a productive progressive agenda, where the concerns of the true left start to get addressed again.

Anyway, big thanks from me to all the DU crew and to everyone who participates in DU.

[seventhson]

11. Thanks all!

nt

[Q3JR4]

12. I read your post and made my own donation because of it. n/t

[seventhson]

14. Very cool

I was trying to inspire positivity/

I have wanted to donate forever (and must mention that I was sponsored last year which is another worthy cause - to sponsor someone)

There were a ew times when I was mad about policies - but usually skinner's cool head prevailed over all stupidity and freeperness.

I am honored to be in such good company.

[VOX]

13. Good going, seventhson!

Way to hang in there, and way to rally the troops.

I gave to DU yesterday, but after reading your impassioned post, I will donate a second time!!

Many thanks -- :toast:

[Orrin_73]

15. I made my first donation too

:toast: