“You can buy us love” is what the banner reads on the rabble.ca site. It is our way of asking for financial support from our readers.
I am babbler 44. I signed up to post on the site when rabble.ca was launched because of my interest in politics, and my desire to see Canada become a better country.
It is not original to me that democracy is first about open debate and discussion. Elections matter, obviously. Without debate and discussion leading to a substantial body of informed opinion, party politics becomes impoverished, and elections, rituals, easily ignored, most here would agree I think.
Over the years babble has contributed to my political education, and I like to imagine that of others. I remember when Stéphane Dion was under attack for his French citizenship. A babbler somehow found, and posted, an English language version of the French citizenship act. No mainstream journalist was quoting the act, and I doubt many had thought they needed it before writing their stories.
We could do better in welcoming others, and restraining our tempers, and I miss those who have departed in anger, or gone off to other places. I want them drawn back as babblers, regular, and recent. So let us by all means raise the level of debate on the boards, challenging ourselves to give a little more, and showing off our better sides (O.K. if, and when the occasion warrants it).
In the meantime, I will laugh, and be surprised, irritated and provoked, and expect all to improve my day, just through you being here on babble.
Overall, not many more than 15 people are paid to work at rabble.ca. I want the budget to double, so hours can be increased. People now work one day, or two, on the site, and volunteer for more.
This is a request for you to contribute, and a thank-you to those who have already contributed, or plan to contribute.
Join up on site, put a monthly amount on a credit card, or sign up for a bank withdrawal. The suggested amounts are here:
https://secure.rabble.ca/membership/signup.php
This is the Valentine’s Day drive. Give babble a valentine.
Thank you for (thinking of) financial support for rabble.ca.
My best wishes to you for Valentines Day, and after.
Duncan Cameron