Keeping the lights on here at DK has been an issue for you since the beginning, I know, I’ve watched it all happen in real time.
So here’s a thought.
My sister is a VP of a rather large national bank, one that did not take a cent of TARP money back in 2008/2009, because this bank did not allow any CDO/CDS crazycakes financial instruments to be brought onto their ledgers.
I believe it might be possible for Daily Kos LLC to start a donation processing platform which that Bank could create specifically for Daily Kos.
Current rates for transaction processing are 3 - 4% in the real world, Act Blue is currently charge 3.95% for each transaction.
In addition, it would give DK Users a platform to donate to each other, instead of using PayPal or any other 3rd Party platform to do this.
The Orange Clubhouse has sent a lot (A LOT) of money to candidates and causes over the past two decades, and the revenue of the movement of the money has always gone to 3rd Party organizations — but it could be going to the Daily Kos LLC coffers instead.
Funding things like paid staff writers.