I Just Made A Mere $5 Donation

I'm not making this post to garner admiration or attention really. But this is something I never do.

I don't volunteer, I don't donate. Actually, I don't have the money, usually. Bills, Bills, Bills, Mortgage (30-year fixed at 5.875 percent-give us some credit :) ), and Bills. Trying to get a graphic design career off the ground whilst in my 40's. You know, the American runaround.

I've wanted to donate to DU for the longest time. And, truth be told, I would always feel a little embarrassed...I'm sure more people do much more than I. I'm envious (you must have better incomes than I). And that's as maybe.

But today I took it to the next level. I had nine dollars in a PayPal account. I donated $5 of that. It's what I had, and DU says "whatever you can do". That's what I could do, and I did it; got myself off the fence.

It's a political act. And I've never really been political before. But the current administration has made me political. It's not much action, but it's more action than ever I've done before.

Thanks, Republicans, for waking me up.

Next, I'm going to find out how I can volunteer for Jeff Merkley to whup Senator Gordon Smith (if you squint real hard he hopes you mistake him for Mark Hatfield) and send him back to his frozen foods plant in Pendleton.

It's time, that is true.

And, in the kindness inherent in liberal communities, the star next to my name won't read "this is a 5 dollar star".

I'm a supporter, sure enough. And if my fortunes change for the better, I'll support more.

For several years now, DU has offered me a place to hear news and see opinion that our lame American media wouldn't tell me. Lately, I've learned I can chat with other people who believe as I do. I wish I could've donated more, but $5 is what I had. I have a feeling I won't be looked upon as insincere.

Thanks, DU. Couldn't do without you.

the DU would have over $500,000!!!

Thanks for reminding everyone that even a small contribution can make a difference. :D

:kick:

so I went to the home page to see how many registered users there were . . . nearly 107,000 with over 30 million posts - unbelieveable. That is an average of 280 posts per user. I would guess that is very high for sites like this - but that is just a guess on my part - certainly not based on sound science.

We all do whatever we can do.

Great post, zehnkatzen.

Money well spent. (If nothing else, it really irritates the lurkers)

:toast: to you, zehnkatzen

a low money flow. That's what I gave until even the 5 became a stretch.

I can't get Paypal to work on this computer, and because I'm moving,
everything's packed away.

So I hope I'll be forgiven if I don't donate this time around.

If I could donate through Amazon like before, I would do it now.

Sue

Glad to have another progressive, forward-thinking, intelligent Oregonian on DU. I admire your focus and commitment to the cause and I too will work to "whup" Gordon Smith. He's no Mark Hatfield, that's for sure!

Good luck with your graphic design pursuits, and congrats on that gold star--it's not the amount it's what it represents! Good on ya!

Tired Old Cynic

I sure can't. I'm barely hanging onto my "donor star"
with $10 contributions once a year. Lots of us are in
the same boat after 6 years of Bushenomics.

I've posted a couple of times but I've never made the Greatest page. That's quite a high-sign, peoples!

I just felt as though I ought to testify just a little.

Y'all's response made it more than worth it. Thank you!

As broke as I am I owe this place some money for all the information it provides me on a daily basis, so I just donated my $5.

Thanks DU!

off work on disability. I've been thinking how I could 'beg off' on my donation this time by pleading poverty. But $5.00 seems doable. Your post is inspiring. Thanks

It's a good day to donate, apparently...

so I will. Good on ya! Don't underestimate yourself. You are at DU and if you read it even a little more than once a month, the likelihood is that you are turning into a political wonk and just the knowledge base is so important - heck you likely know far more than any of your neighbors. There will come a time (I have no clue when that will be for you) when the knowledge will compel you to add your political muscle, heck even this donation is a step towards that.

Partly because I don't have the money, and partly because I just don't like the idea of paying to post. However, DU caught me right now with a little extra cash than normal, so I chipped in $15. I can't promise that I'll always be able to donate, but I agree with you that donating to DU is more than simply paying for posting; it's a political act. This place is important, if only to show us that we are not alone.

5 dollars from you is worth just as much as 100 from someone who won't miss it.

Good on ya for getting your feet wet.And yeah, Gordon hasta go.

If so, then I'm zweikatzen...maybe we're related. :hi:

...we don't have ten kitties right now–I adopted the name some time ago. But that's what it's supposed to mean. And I have a yen for anything German.

We have eight cats right now. "Achtkatzen" just don't have that lilt on the tongue.

My best to your "zwei"

Thank you.

we got to keep this site going.

When I posted it, all I was after was just saying something I thought needed to be said. At the root of the thing is that I was just grateful that there is a place where someone of modest (or less) means can give just a little and have it go a long ways. My $5, multiplied by the voice of DU, as just as important as a $50 or $500 (or whatever) contribution somewhere else. It helps make a difference.

For far too long, 'donations to the cause' were the province of three-or-four-figured amounts typically given my men in tuxes and women in evening gowns at posh functions. I'd never had a way in which I could do this before, and I was thrilled.

However, from my perspective, I've gotten incredibly positive feedback for doing something, even small, and inspired three or four others to do the same. That is incredibly gratifying. I was just trying to say what needed to be said; as it turned out, i was paying it forward without even trying.

That's why I like this place. Having my words go to the Greatest page is just a bonus.

Thanks, everyone.