An open posting to the DU Admins - Democratic Underground

hyphenate

(1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore

Wed Feb-14-07 04:13 PM
Original message

An open posting to the DU Admins

Dear Guys (and Gals!),

Thank you for the past 6 years of a Democratic haven online. Before DU, there were few sanctuaries for those of us who wanted to vent about the idiots who waged a coup d'etat and took over our country. At that time, there was little in the way of good debate and discussion about the times to come, and how we knew even then how fucked-up things would eventually get.

I remember early "pioneers" who would visit one of the Yahoo boards and talk of their experiences, but the Yahoo boards were infiltrated far too easily, and there was little in the way of moderation to keep freepers away. We had dreams that we could form a site where the freepers could mostly look and read, but couldn't interfere with our right of free speech. We were a diverse group, but that strength actually was a weakness, because we were scattered to the four winds with few commonalities.

DU changed all that. In the first six months of its existence, DU became a haven that brought us together with our main desire--to fight the onslaught of the rightwing, and to help keep the issues, scandals and corruption in front of the world. We needed to vent about the horrific things that were happening, and try to convince the world that there was a lot of crap going on behind closed doors that needed to remain as out in the open as we could make them. While we were and still are very different people, with many wide opinions, we all agree that the right wing was filled with corruption, evil and nasty people.

DU is now going on to the start of its seventh year, and I think it is time to make a significant change here. For the past 6 years, you guys have been living off the little funds you collect during one of the quarterly drives from approximately 1000 members. I think this needs to be changed to 1500, because regardless of any other factor, the cost of living has risen, and we need DU more than ever.

In addition, there are now over 100,000 members here. While I know that includes a number who have been TS'ed through the years, active freeper moles, double memberships and other vestigial groups, it doesn't mean that you guys should continue to live on about 1% contributors to DU. Even 1500 members is rather tame, but I think it's a start.

I hope there are many among the regular membership rolls who agree with me, and will keep this thread kicked and active, just to show our support for these past few years with DU and how much it has contributed to OUR sense of community and friendship with each other.

It will also go to prove that there are far more than 1000 members who actually give a damn about DU. While some of us don't have a great deal of money, we contribute what we can, and that helps a little--it's not a matter of how much we can give, but the fact that we give at all which is the main point. Another 500 people contributing $1=$500 more in the coffers. Please accept our continued thanks, and think about raising the ante a little. It's a way for us to show how much we need you and DU for many years into the future.