I Am Not One Of Andy S’s Close Friends

[Me.]

here on DU, though we have exchanged a comment or two and, I like the cut of his jib. Nor am I rolling in cash, the crunch has seemingly come. But I was thinking about the fund drive and it occurred to me that if just half the members of this forum contributed $10.00, he’d have over 300 grand, which would go a long way to seeing him through. $10.00 for a life. Not so much to ask. Well I have a jar of coins (pennies, nickels and dimes) which must surely be that. I’ll be sending it to Andy. And should the day come (please, never) when any of the rest of us need help, I hope that a group, such as the one here on DU, will be waiting with extended hands.

[Rainbowreflect]

1. Very good point!

[Lisa0825]

2. Me too.

I barely know him. I never exchanged an email with him until he found out he was sick. But I did read his posts, and I have a huge amount of respect for the work he has done.

I've sent him two donations so far, and will be sending another one next payday.

It's the least I can do, after all he's done for me... and all of us.

[Sydnie]

3. Powerful Message

and I agree completely. I will rise to the "change challenge" and gather my loose change and send the total sum of that change to Andy as well.

I, as many of us do, have outstanding bills hanging over my head week to week and month to month. I fret about where the money will come from to get my head back above the high water mark on a daily basis. But, when all of that is said and done, I might have struggles but I have LIFE. My lifestyle is hanging in the balance but not my life. I can't sit quietly by and not reach out when my small contribution, coupled with others small contributions, could add up enough to save someones life. How can anyone?

So, rise to the change challenge. Search your couches, your laundry pockets, your car floor and your junk drawers. Gather together that change that you didn't know was there so you won't miss it anyway and send it to Andy. You'll feel good about doing something small that can make such a difference in someones life. I promise you will.

Thanks for the post Me. You did good!

[merh]

4. Powerful message is right.

Thank you. Nominated the thread.

:loveya: I DU Believe in DU & in Andy. :grouphug:

[derby378]

5. There are over 60,000 DUers in good standing...

...but as Chicano activists proclaimed in the 60s and 70s, Harm to one is harm to all. We gotta stick together.

And I didn't really know Andy, either. But he needs our help, and now he's getting it.

Thank you, Lord, for so many wonderful DUers!!

[anarchy1999]

12. I sent my small donation via snail mail on Monday. I don't like PayPal.

PayPal sucks! We didn't have much but it was nice to contribute to Andy, and we didn't really know him either.

"Thank you, Lord, for so many wonderful DUers!!"

You said it best Derby!

[Me.]

14. The Coins Have Been Transformed

and sent. Also via snail, because I'm not a big fan of pp either.

[dzika]

6. How to donate...

If you are in any way able to contribute, please don't hesitate.

1) via USPS:
send a check or a money order to:
Andy Stephenson
P O Box 25624
Seattle, WA 98165-1124

2) via Paypal:
(You must have a Paypal account)
http://www.paypal.com
After logging in, choose "Send Money" and
enter Andy's email address as the recipient
[e-mail]


!!!IMPORTANT!!!
If you are sending something, please email me if you can so I can do the math.
Send your email to Beth at [e-mail]


Most of us don't have that kind of money sitting around. But please, think about something you might be willing to skip once -- like a trip to the Mall -- and send your check. If we each just do a little, it adds up as we have seen time and again.

[Moosepoop]

7. Thanks so much, Me!!!

In case you (or anyone) missed it, here's the info for sending donations to Andy:

You can do this on your computer via PayPal:
http://www.paypal.com
After logging in, choose "Send Money" and enter Andy's email address as the recipient:
[e-mail] (note there is an underscore like this: Andy_Stephenson)

Or at Amazon.com: http://s1.amazon.com/exec/varzea/ts/my-pay-page/P2TRHRVBGX9KOX/102-6873839-9047353
or
http://tinyurl.com/bnu79

If you prefer to donate via non-electronic check or money order, please mail to:
Andy Stephenson
P O Box 25624
Seattle, WA 98165-1124

Be sure to send a PM with the amound donated to sfexpat2000 so she can keep track of the total!

Oh, and "Me"... :yourock:

[Jo March]

8. Your post made me cry.

Me., you are a truly generous soul as are so many others on this board. Even those who can't donate have offered prayers, good wishes and blessings to Andy. He's received so many posts where the posters is wishing him health and good luck.

DU is so lucky to have all of you and we are lucky to have DU.

I have to go and blow my nose now.

[merh]

9. Here ya go . . .

Don't you just love the folks here! :hug:

:grouphug: I DU Believe in DU & in Andy! :loveya:

[Jo March]

27. Thanks. I'll need a lot of those for this thread

I can't believe that we are having to raise money for someone to have life-saving surgery. I just can't believe it.

I CAN believe that the money was raised, though, because we are a community. It takes every one of us to help or we'll all fall.

:grouphug: to DU
:hug: to Andy
:hug: to merh for the tissues.

[merh]

29. We are a community . . .

and it is just incredible how many have so little yet still give what they can. These threads restore my faith in humanity. :cry:

pass me a kleenex, will ya. :cry:

:loveya: I so love all ya'll! :grouphug:

:hug: I DU believe in DU & in Andy! :loveya:

[Moosepoop]

10. In addition to the OP

I should have said:

Rainbowreflect

Lisa0825

Sydnie

merh

derby378

dzika

arnheim

and ALL the DUer's who have united in this effort for Andy..... :yourock:

[Jo March]

25. Awww, thanks but we all did so much

DU is a kick-ass community. Without it, I'd be in the dark about so much:

Stolen election
Jimmy/Jeff
Delay's exploits
The Iraq memo

And I wouldn't know all of you great guys here!

:hug: to every person on DU.

[merh]

30. Moose

:yourock:

:hi:

[Me.]

15. Prayers Are Important Too!

Very powerful.

[CountAllVotes]

20. yes

you are right of course. I told Andy to stay calm and to ask God for help and God will help him.

[Jo March]

26. Exactly! And good wishes are important

and all of the little posts that say, "Get well" or "I'm thinking about you" - these are the ways that we lift each other up out of the pain and misery and fear.

Dang it. I'm all teary-eyed again.

[Samurai_Writer]

11. Hear hear

I don't know Andy personally either, but when he first posted about his cancer and asked for PayPal donations (about 2 months ago), I started sending him something every payday. This last donation effort, I sent in quite a bit, probably more than I could afford, but what the hell. I will be sending him something every payday until he is recovered. He's done so much for all of us, what I wish I could have done, in regards to exposing election fraud. Anyone who has an extra $10 or even $5 should consider donating. Andy's life is worth it, not only to himself, his family and friends, but to all of us who want fair elections happen again in the U.S.

Peace,
Bella

[BigBearJohn]

13. Good point. I'll donate again.

[Sacajawea]

16. Great idea, Me.

I'd been wanting to help out but I've been unemployed for three months with no income whatsoever. So, I just went to the piggy bank where I put all the coins I find on the ground and guess what? There was about $10.40 there!! I just sent it to Andy via PayPal and I did PM sfexpat2000. I'm so glad you suggested this! Thanks! :hi:

[Desertrose]

17. Wow..I was thinking the same thing!

Am sending out a small check ( wish it could be more, but........ :shrug: )

We should be able to easily raise enough to help Andy....
fingers crossed.....

:hug: Me
DR

[CountAllVotes]

19. everyone makes a difference

in the words of Dennis J. Kucinich!

Keep hope alive!

:D

:kick:

[Me.]

21. It Doesn't Have To Be A Large Amount

If enough of us do it the job will get done.

Sacajawea, that is amazingly generous, three months is a long time to be out of work. I do truly believe that good comes to those who deserve it. Just consider how many people are standing up for Andy on this, so maybe a solution is winging it's way to you even as we "speak".

[CountAllVotes]

18. same here

Same relationship in a way too. I sent him a few bucks. I hope it helps him in some small way. If everyone did this, you are very right, Andy would have all of the money he'd likely need to fight this illness.

:dem: :kick:

[Vinca]

22. How many Andys are out there?

I don't really know Andy, but I was happy to send what I could. What bothers me though is how many people are in similar need who are not connected to a database of thousands of potential donors. It's a shame people have to go begging when serious illness hits. Not a week goes by in my town that someone isn't trying to raise money for a medical procedure. The effort for Andy has made me realize how many wonderful people there are in the world, but when you put that aside, where are we? We've got lots and lots of people who need health care and are shut out. You can't pay for surgeries with car washes. You can't pay for bone marrow transplants with bake sales. We need to start coming down hard on every elected official in the land. One thing I've noticed is that people aren't all that excited over the health care issue until it hits home. It's hit home for Andy, it's hit home for me and it's hit home for millions of Americans. Enough is enough.

[tavalon]

23. Yes

The fact that DUers have stepped up to the bat is beautiful to the max. The fact that it is necessary because of America's health care shame is appalling.

[Me.]

24. Totally

And added to the stress of the illness is the stress of being able to afford treatment, to save and have their lives. There are sleepless nights for parents worried about health care for their children, the elderly who don't eat so they can afford their meds and people who hold down full times jobs having their lives destroyed because of medical bills. It's not only a shame, it's a crying shame.

[SoCalDem]

28. My husband worked a job he HATED for 10 years because

we HAD to have the insurance for our child.. My husband wanted to start his own architecture business, but we could not take the risk of geing uninsured.. We once got a bill accidentally (it was supposed to go to the insurance, but someone typed a wrong number and it was forwarded to us as "DENIED"..It was for $359,700.00 and change., This was in 1979.. Our son was hospitalized for 6-8 wks at a stretch, 2 or 3 times a year ... for EIGHT years...so naturally, there was NO hope of ever changing jobs.. Every nibble he got, was always rescinded when they found out about the medical needs of our oldest..

We DID have the insurance, but the result of them KNOWING he would never leave, was that the company knew they could dump every shit project on him, and he would never be able to complain..

They moved us 5 times (4 states) in 4 years, and even refused to reimburse us for moving expenses on the last one, even though THEY were4 the reason for moving us.. We lost money on every home we ever had, because we never stayed put long enough, and always seemed to sell in a buyers' market and buy in a seller's market..

Don't get me wrong.. the insurance was great to have, BUT when insurance is provided at the whim of an employer, they OWN your soul..

Medical coverage should be there for everyone, no matter the job. Employers should not have the ability to "play god" by having the power to utimately "save your life" or not..

They should be there to hire you to do a job for them, and to pay you for that work. Your health care should be a separate thing..Tying health care to employers, gives them too much power over the employees.
A company with decent benefits, gets away with lower wages, because they threaten raising worker-share of coverage, or dropping it altogether, so of course, the employees take less wages...and yet the employer CAN terminate the medical coverage anytime he wants..

[FizzFuzz]

34. I was thinking similar thoughts to yours

It enrages me that good people have to resort to begging. What happens to those who don't have a community like this? What if it were a DUer whom nobody knows, or who didn't have the fortune to do something important for democracy/the community? So many questions that wouldn't have to be considered if this were a humane country.

Your point about slavery to the company is powerful. That disgusts me that your husband's employer knew they had you over a barrel and used your suffering for their gaming. Absolutely disgusting.

Hopefully the suffering these bastards in power are causing the world will change enough minds, sooner rather than later.



Anyway, is the Amazon link still working? I used that, it worked for me--it might be more convenient for some people.

[merh]

35. Amazon is still working.

The link often is cut off when reposted, so we created a tinyurl link. Thanks for asking. :toast:

=====================================
Amazon.com:
http://s1.amazon.com/exec/varzea/ts/my-pay-page/P2TRHRVBGX9KOX/102-6873839-9047353
or
http://tinyurl.com/bnu79

Or there is PayPal:
http://www.paypal.com
After logging in, choose "Send Money" and enter Andy's email address as the recipient:
[e-mail] (note there is an underscore like this: Andy_Stephenson)

If you prefer to donate via non-electronic check or money order, please mail to:
Andy Stephenson
P O Box 25624
Seattle, WA 98165-1124

!!!IMPORTANT!!!
If you are sending something, please email Beth Beth at [e-mail] so she can can do the math or pmail sfexpat2000 with amount of donation!

=========================

:grouphug: I DU Believe in DU! :loveya:

Prayers and good wishes and all positive energies to you Andy :hug:

[FizzFuzz]

37. Thank you merh!

I'm sorry I didn't go find the Amazon link and include it...thank you for doing that. The more easy it is to navigate the logistics, the more likely folks will be to help out.

:hi: :hug:

^^^^courage, fortune and healing to Andy and to ALL of us who may need it^^^^

[merh]

38. You are so welcome.

That amazon link has been such a tempermental thing, I think we solved it with the tinyurl.

Thanks so much for caring and helping us get this info out there!

[caligirl]

36. similar problem here, not to the same degree. Diabetic child.

[ray of light]

60. Lake of health care is an epidemic.

Progressives care about every Andy out there; Republicans only care about a fetus in a woman's body.

[Ladyhawk]

69. Vinca, I've been thinking the same thing. :(

Let's face it: we can't afford to do the same thing for every Andy who comes along. Prices of health care are out of control. Rich assholes are wallowing in billions made on others' suffering while many go without access to any health care at all.

I myself have seen the compassionless face of health care in this country. I've been pissed for a long, long time.

This must change!

[Lisa0825]

31. kick

:kick:

[Sacajawea]

32. Kick for those eating dinner in front of their screens now.

:kick:

[merh]

33. kick

:kick:

[Me.]

39. Kick For The Night Crew

[merh]

43. kick

:kick: again

[bettyellen]

40. and thank tinfoilinfor2005 for donating the vacation for auction.......

and is still going on....
a week in key largo, which sleeps six , and you get to meet the really lovely and generous DUer who donated it, and feel so good about yourself......

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=213x520

[Me.]

41. Wow

very cool.

[merh]

42. kick

:kick:

[merh]

44. kick

:kick:

[Just Me]

45. Thing is,...giving to others has an incredible added human benefit,....

,...it eases our own struggle through a difficult life. Lending a hand to another is like lending a hand to yourself.

[ocean girl]

46. I've never met Andy either but I have something in common with him...

While DUers have raised over $30,000 for Andy's surgery, I received about $1 million worth of support from DU today after I started a thread about losing my job this afternoon.

I was totally overwhelmed at how many people took the time to share their experience with provide me with very valuable feedback and suggestions. This community is unbelievable - I've been coming here for over a year, but haven't posted very often because I feel like I have more to learn before I share.

I've seen this same outpouring of love for Andy and have proudly participated in it. Even though I'm now unemployed, when I get my final paycheck, I will again donate for Andy.

So, thanks everybody, for being here and for caring and for standing up for what's right - oh, I mean, left - well, you know what I mean.

Peace.

[EFerrari]

47. Rereading this thread brought home for me what we have that

the opposition seems to have lost altogether: real community.

You can't have a community based on intolerance, exclusion or bias or even, plain old disregard. That is why they are self-destructing now.

It doesn't work to say, I sympathize with you but not with him, or I try to understand Stan but not Joe. It's like building a bike that has a front wheel but not a back one. It won't roll very far.

And we're rolling.

There is a big picture and a smaller, more personal one. The trick is to hold them both at the same time. Let's see how we do.

:kick:

[Me.]

48. As We're Speaking Of Helping Each Other

a click here will contribute food to those who need it

http://www.thehungersite.com/cgi-bin/WebObjects/CTDSites

[merh]

49. What a great site.

Thank you for the link.

:kick: for Andy, for our community.

:patriot: I DU believe. :grouphug:

[merh]

53. kick

:kick:

[EFerrari]

50. Thanks, Me. What a great site! n/t

[Me.]

51. Welcome!

Though I bet everyone would be surprised at where where I got it. Crass News Network aka CNN mentioned it about a year ago.

[EFerrari]

52. Chcken noodle news?

Check this out:

http://archives.cnn.com/2000/HEALTH/08/29/newsstand.ferrari/

[Me.]

54. No Words

Except to say: Beth, you are pretty damn amazing.

[EFerrari]

56. No. I was born under a lucky star and Doug is damn amazing

:hi:

[Me.]

55. $4800. Still Needed

Do what you can folks

[juajen]

57. I snailmailed mine on Tuesday, but to help him

over the top, I plan on donating again in about three weeks. If everyone who donated just donated again for same amount, he would have most of what he needs. I am a bit worried about the time of recovery. I just don't want one of us to be worried about mundane money matters when all we have to do is give a little. Community is vital in these very troubling times.

[Me.]

58. You Are So Right About Community

We all need it!

[merh]

59. Well

I think this thread deserves a kick!
:kick:

[merh]

61. 91

:kick:

[Me.]

62. What The Hell...

one more kick for Andy

[merh]

63. Got to get this thread out there for the weekend crew!

:kick:

:loveya: :hug: I DU Believe! :hug: :loveya:

[Me.]

64. OK Then, A Kick In The Pants

to the health system in this country

[Me.]

65. And A Kick For

the health insurance industry

[EFerrari]

66. Oh, is that what we're up to? A big ol kick in the pants for Big Pharma

:nuke:

Check out the Cabinet's affiliations at www.opensecrets.org. It will set you back or -- maybe not.

[Me.]

68. It Sure Is

Turn about is fair play and they've been kicking all of us around for far too long.

[Ladyhawk]

67. Exactly. I can't afford much, but I did give some.

I'm counting on others to do their part, too. :)

[Me.]

70. Sing Away LadyHawk

It's a catchy tune

[Me.]

71. One For Good Measure n/t

[EFerrari]

72. Keep this great thread kicked!

:kick:

[EFerrari]

73. kick

:kick:

[Me.]

74. Kick For Andy Looking Good

& working it in Ohio.

[Me.]

75. If You Pay Me $5, I'll Let You Kick This thread Too

naturally the money will go to Andy, so you can just direct it there

[merh]

76. kickin it

Cause this is so important. :kick:

[Me.]

77. Kick

[philosophie_en_rose]

78. *Kick*

This is an excellent point. Just $10.00 would see him through. I'm brought to tears that this forum is the only thing between him and death.

[Moosepoop]

79. What the heck .....

was this doing on page 2 ????????
KICK!

[Me.]

80. Thanks Moosepoop !

Over 40k, not far to go

[EFerrari]

81. Sunday kickeroo!

:kick:

[Moosepoop]

82. Captain Kickeroo, was that you??

Here's another kickeroo, or two!

:kick: :kick:

[EFerrari]

83. No, that was Bunnykickit

:kick:

Remember the song, "And the little one said, ROLL OVER!"

[Moosepoop]

85. Forget the bunny! That moose is HOT!!!

(Or is it just me?) :silly:

[EFerrari]

87. LOL!

:)

[hiley]

84. 12:05 PDT: $41,010.63! Thank you, DUers!"

from beth !
me, thank you so much for caring and inspiring many more !
:loveya: :loveya: :loveya:

:grouphug:

[Me.]

86. WOW!

I am so impressed wit 'chall

[Moosepoop]

88. Kick it... kick it good!!!

:kick:

[Me.]

89. Only 8 Grand + To Go

This IS doable.

BTW, Welcome Moosepoop.

[Moosepoop]

90. Thanks!!! and..... KICK!!!!

:kick:

[jen4clark]

91. You know what

this is the post everyone who thinks they can't afford to send anything should see. Excellent way of putting it me. YOu actually made me realize that donating a little is better than donating nothing. $10. going out right now. Thank you!

:kick:

[Me.]

92. No, Really

Thank you!

[Moosepoop]

93. My daughter just donated

She came over for a Mother's Day cookout after she got out of work, and while we were husking the sweet corn together I explained why I was flitting to the computer so much.
When she'd heard the story, she offered $50.00 if she could send it from her next paycheck, as she's totally broke till then. We decided that I'd send the donation now, and she'll pay me back from her check. So her donation has been paypalled, and the PM sent to sfexpat2000.

Now I'm off to have a little chat with her boyfriend.....

[Me.]

94. Maybe He'll Want To Impress Her

LOL. Keep us updated

[merh]

95. UPDATE: 4:30pm PDT: $43,165.63 THANK YOU, DUers!

4:30pm PDT: $43,165.63 THANK YOU, DUers!
sfexpat2000 just posted the latest totals.

:hug: :loveya: I DU Believe! :loveya: :hug:

:patriot: NEVER GIVE UP! :patriot:

:yourock: DUERS :yourock:

[Me.]

96. Wohoo, Only $6 Grand + To Go

This is amazing. It CAN be done

[EFerrari]

97. We're gonna du it!

:)

[merh]

98. DU, the little choochoo that can!

DU~DU~DU~DU~DU~DU~DU~DU~DU~DU~DU~DU~DU~DU~DU~DU~DU~DU~DU~DU~DU~


:hug: :loveya: I DU Believe! :loveya: :hug:

:patriot: NEVER GIVE UP! :patriot:

:yourock: DUERS :yourock:

[EFerrari]

99. kick it! Magic number is now $5,555! n/t

[Me.]

101. $5 Grand Plus

Thaty's all to do!

[Moosepoop]

100. Kick! n/t

[EFerrari]

102. kick it

:kick:

[merh]

103. kick

:kick:

[merh]

104. 7:20pm PDT $46, 167.63 Thank you, beautiful DUers!

:kick:

[Me.]

105. $3 Grand Plus, Only

The rapidly diminshing balance can be overcome

[Mojorabbit]

106. kick

[Me.]

107. $2 Grand Plus Only

going, going gone

[Me.]

108. Kick Looking For A

Zero Grand Total

[Me.]

109. $1Grand Plus

Not much further to go

[Me.]

110. Last Kick Of The Night

But I know when I check in, in the morning, the deal will be sealed