74 Comments

We may be anachronistic, but the dissapointment at the switch from print to all-digital Hightower Lowdown is beyond disappointing. We've followed Jim for at least 10 years, since moving to Austin. The print edition was a welcome monthly perk for us. With thousands of emails demanding attention monthly, we always sit down at the kitchen table and read the real printed literature that is sent to us and that we subscribe to. A chance to relax, have a cuppa tea, and use our eyes and brain. Now you've chosen to compete with all the political ads, requests for donations, business emails, work emails, emails from friends and relatives, and all the other digital confetti that flies every day. Very sorry to say so long partner, but that's the way it goes!

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Believe me, shutting down the print edition was *not* our happy choice at all. We're all mourning it in so many ways, but the economics were just not feasible. If you haven't gotten your print edition in the mail yet, read more about it here: https://hightowerlowdown.org/article/the-lowdown-is-on-the-move/

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Looks pretty clear so far. I'm even willing to put up with a little dog poo on my boots just as long as I can still get the progressive journalism and points of view from Jim Hightower. Also, Deanna, I love your hair. Thanks for all y'all do.

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Aw thanks Stephen!

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I agree with Gordon and Linda, I love reading the print issue, but I understand the dilemma. I hope I continue reading Lowdown online. Thank you for excellent journalism! Loved the illustrations.

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I fully understand your transitional difficulties and, even though I dislike the digital transformation, I heartily support your move to the dark side (joke).

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hahaha, it really feels the dark side!

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Do not want an email subscription. Like reading the Lowdown at my leisure. Also like spreading the word and hopefully getting other people to subscribe by making copies and spreading them around! Even though I know that is illegal.

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Oh we heartily encourage the sharing! Seriously. And I'm writing up a post for later this week on how to print out nice-looking versions of the Substack articles.

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Jim and Lowdown Team: why not offer a digital subscription that includes a downloadable version, PDF or other, that can be printed out for those who don't or can't read on-line?

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We hope to be able to do something like this in the future! Economics dictated a smaller staff and thus lower capacity to produce, but we're hoping to ramp up again as we have success here.

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I have another substack subscription with another of my emails and for another writer. So now I have two subscriptions to substack?

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I believe you can combine your subscriptions to one email address. Subscribe with which ever one makes sense!

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I understand the reason for the switch, but I will miss that monthly newsletter. Thanks for making the transition so convenient.

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We will miss it too! Thanks for your kind words.

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I donate $10/month, which is $120 per year. Am I expected in addition to that to pay for a Substack subscription?

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You should have received an extended trial period (I'll double check after I finish posting this), and the monthly donations are cancelled.

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I have cut and pasted this to an email I sent to Jim Hightower's email address. The email has my friend's specific subscription information, which I do not give here.

Here are my friend's questions:

1) Are you or Substack going

to sell or give away my

email address?

2) Can I pay using the phone

rather than using a

credit card over the internet?

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Hi Wendy! Here you go: 2. Neither Substack nor we will sell your email address, ever. 2. Unfortunately, a credit or debit card are the only way to pay for a Substack subscription. One way to get around this is to purchase prepaid debit cards at a local store!

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Hello, Deanna

Great to hear that neither Lowdown nor Substack will sell or give away my friend's email.

I need to clarify question number two.

My friend wants a phone number that she can call to give her credit card information to the Substack staff member in charge of subscriptions to pay for her Lowdown subscription. That's what I meant. Sorry that wasn't clear.

Take care and make sure you are getting enough sleep.

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while I'm now set up through substack Will I still be able to pay for my acct through the mail!

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Unfortunately, a credit or debit card are the only way to pay for a Substack subscription. One way to get around this is to purchase prepaid debit cards at a local store!

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How does a gift subscription get transferred? I have been buying one for my son for a few years now and he wants it to transfer over - but I am not sure he would be in your database.....

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All print subscriptions are in the database-- he'll get his print issue in the mail with instructions, but if he wants to get a jump on things, he can fill out the form here: https://hightowerlowdown.org/substack

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I thought I already replied to subscribe to substack, but filled out the forms (at least partially) just now...and have seen any email from you Lowdowners yet... And I have some trouble understanding the "form"... Suzanne

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Hmmmmm, did you get today's commentary on GOP preemption? I'm also still working through the imports from print to substack, so you should be on board soon if not.

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Just to illustrate how old I am, I do not know what all of the 4 thingies above mean. Got the first two, Like and Comment. But not the two others. So??

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Listen, I'm middle-aged, and sometimes I don't understand either, haha. The swirly looking one is to "restack" something, which means, "reshare on my own Substack profile." The box with the arrow pointing up means "share," and will give you ways to share with friends.

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I have filled out the questionnaire using both my Yahoo and my Gmail addresses. I want to discontinue using my yahoo account. How should I do that without interfering with my gmail access to the Lowdown?

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Hey Dolph! Drop me a line -- jimhightower@substack.com -- with both addresses and I'll take care of it.

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Deanna,

Please drop the dolphgwilliams@yahoo.com and keep the dolph734@gmail.com.

Regards,

Dolph Williams

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Done!

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Would it be possible to return to correct English in your articles. You must accept it from readers, but could you use "We have" and "I have" in place of "We've got" and "I've got". Save "got" for the times it is appropriate. Thank you.

Note: I'm not an English teacher, but it does bother me to see our lovely language abused.

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I'll get an editor before I post again!

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