Minneapolis Is Just The Beginning (How To Prepare Your City For ICE)

 

 

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Published by Scotties Playtime

I am an older gay guy in a long-term wonderful relationship. My spouse and I are in our 36th year together. I love politics and news. I enjoy civil discussions and have no taboo subjects. My pronouns are he / him / his and my email is Scottiestoybox@gmail.com

24 thoughts on “Minneapolis Is Just The Beginning (How To Prepare Your City For ICE)”

  1. Well, I’ve got two pieces in relation to this; I keep meaning to post them, but am so enjoying watching you work your blog again that I haven’t gotten it done. Here are the links; they are important.

    Also, the best defense from this is preparation. We are seeing what will happen when they come. We need to be in contact with our local governments, and state government as well, to find out what the plan is so we know how to coordinate. Anyway, since I posted and preached on that already, here are the links. They’re from WIRED magazine. They have good info, and are uncowed.

    https://www.wired.com/story/security-news-this-week-ice-can-now-spy-on-every-phone-in-your-neighborhood/

    https://www.wired.com/story/what-to-do-if-ice-invades-your-neighborhood/

    There are also good writeups in Mother Jones. Apparently, some local government are getting camera time as if they are doing more, but the MN people are not aware of what that more might be, and aren’t happy. So, early engagement of local and state government is highly important. If they’re red and all for immigration enforcement abusing the law on humans, well, better to be prepared for that.

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      1. Well, if you’d like to make them into a post, that’s fine. I thought that by putting them here, they’re here for people to access. But, you know more about blogging than I do; I’m a nerd-geek who clicks links in people’s comments wherever I read, and I guess I expect that everybody does. So you decide if you want to use time and space. They’re here, one way or the other. We’ll know where to find them when we need them!

        Do you have a good report from your appointment? Also, I’ve been wondering about Randy. I was thinking he’s in NC. So he’d have been right in the track of all that awful freezing rain, with power outages and destruction. Have you heard from him?

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        1. Hi Ali. A lot of people only read the posts and not the comments. So they might not see them. Or they read it in the email or the reader which I am not sure if they include the comments. But I will post them as I think it is good information the people should have. Randy lives in Michigan and they have had three or four days of snow and ICE storms. He had a delivery of sheet metal come to the plant and he couldn’t even get the truck into the yard due to how much snow there was. But Ron in Texas said three nights ago it was 23 degrees and they lost power all night. This morning he texted me how cold it was and that his bones ached. Yup I know that feeling. As for me. I had to have trigger point injections in my back which was very painful because the muscles were spasmed so badly she had to work the needle into the muscles. Hopefully in a day or two the injections will cause the muscles to relax and the horrible pain will lessen.

          But I got bad news while there. Seem the federal government under our crazy CDC head has decided people shouldn’t be on so much pain medications and has demanded that every pain doctor lower the morphine equivalent patients receive to 100 or under with a goal of lowing all patients to below fifty. So at a time when my pain levels are high I had to take a cut in my morphine because some quack with no pain or experience as a doctor has decided that people shouldn’t have access to legal pain relief. What does the government want people to do to lower their pain, use illegal drugs? Drink too much? I hate it. I had to take a cut when DeathSantis and the republican state legislature decided they knew more than real doctors with medical experience in the field, and now same thing is happening. I wish these people would leave medicine to the doctors and patients. Hugs

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          1. Well, living in MI, at least Randy knows about dealing with this weather! But I don’t wish troubles on anyone. And I’m sorry about your pain. And I hope for a solution to the current judgments about medications.

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            1. Oh Ali You have no idea. I get up early and Randy goes into work early so he often calls me on his ride to work. Well the other day during the ice storm a semi came up on him fast flashing his lights. Randy was going slow but the semi was going much faster. Randy realized the driver was signalling his rig was out of control and couldn’t stop. Randy was able to move over but the space between them was supper small.

              As for the rest. The doctor ordered an MRI of my back where the current damage is the most. She said they have new therapies but from what I have seen they involve surgery and implanted pain pumps, I have rejected them before. I am worried.

              See years ago the same head surgeon which is my main doctor told me that if they started to cut on my vertebrae to offer me relief ever few years they would have to do it all over again. My point is my spine is so damaged that there is really nothing other pain medication they can do to help me. And yes they always encourage me to tough it out to go the extra bit. But before the state got involved my doctor was giving me 75 mg X 3 a day morphine which let me lead a normal life. And now that is illegal. I could live then, I could garden, I could work. Now I struggle to do dishes and stay at the computer to post. How has their laws made my life better? How do they understand the pain that drives me to tears and to my bed hoping that will give me some relief. I am scared of what will happen when the reduction goes into effect. I guess I will have to go to fentanyl because that is my only other option other than repeated surgeries which could leave me paralyzed. Hugs

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              1. The system there sounds like what Bruce Gerencser writes about when he posts about his conditions and their treatments. It’s very humbling, to most humans, to read about such suffering, and want to alleviate it, rather than denying it. I’ve always wondered what powers-that-be are afraid of, when there’s a good medicine that works, and can be controlled between the doctor and the patient.
                I suppose they’re afraid the patient will get high. But seriously, with the level of pain you discuss, is there enough morphine to relieve your pain and then get you high? It’s a rhetorical question, because it doesn’t sound like it, to me. You don’t want to get high, you want to live life.

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                1. Hi Ali. Here is the thing about medical pain medication, if you are in real pain you don’t get high you get relief. I had one doctor tell me that if you can still feel some pain then you are controlling your medications correctly. No one is totally pain free and for me to expect to be is not realistic. But the point of pain medications is to let me / the patient function as normally as possible. So the doctor and the patient work together to get the medication to the point where they feel the relief but still are aware of some pain / discomfort. My pain is always there and always will be. I have to stop doing dishes and sit down because my back hurts so bad. I get up to go to the bathroom in the night and can hardly walk. It is better than it was I used to have to use my walker at night to do so. But every time they take my pain medications down it is more pain in my daily life and less I can do. Again all because someone in government who is not a doctor, and has no pain issues, thinks everyone taking pain medications are drug abusers who need to find go. Yes I read where one Florida legislator said that if you have pain needing medication that an over the counter Tylenol won’t fix then you need to go to church and get right with god. And these people make the rules we the people have to live under. Yet they fight legal cannabis with everything they have, so what are people to do? Hugs

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                  1. “Hi Ali. Here is the thing about medical pain medication, if you are in real pain you don’t get high you get relief.”

                    Exactly. That’s what I said up, there, too.

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                    1. Hi Ali. Yes you did but I wanted to emphasize it for anyone who does read the comments like you do. The fact is people look at what I take and they think I must be tripping all day. But because it dulls the pain but not remove it you don’t get any euphoric effects. It is like taking a Tylenol or aspirin for pain and thinking you were going to get high from it. The body doesn’t work that way according to my doctors. Hugs

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                    2. And that may be just what rubs me wrong sometimes, Scottie. I’m glad you wrote that, so now I know-frequently, anyway-where you’re coming from when you comment to me. I always think you’re writing it all directly to me, and honestly, it was hurting my feelings. Mostly I step around that and move on, but sometimes I want to clarify my own position, and we get in one of our discussions. But now I know, and no worries. Thank you!

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                    3. Hi Ali. I try to address the comment in my reply. But there are sometimes, not always I will write with the others following along. I got into that because when I was having long trans arguments in the comment sections I discovered there were a lot of people interested in the discussion that were just reading not commenting. But those topics are normally ones where people want to see how the discussions turn out or get facts they need to talk about it with others. Short little on off comments I doubt most people take the time to read.

                      Now I am sorry my replies have hurt your feelings. Nothing I direct or reply to what you wrote is intended to do that. I just disagree with your positions on the corporate democratic leadership and my view is widely shared. I am sure that yours is also. It really depends on what you want from government and how comfortable you are. But none of it is personal or written to hurt you. Ever. You keep expressing your thoughts and opinions and I will mine. And we will agree some things and disagree on others but don’t take it personally, it is only meant informatively. Hugs

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                    4. We don’t necessarily disagree on what/who you call the “corporate Democrats” until you paint every Democrat with that brush, which happens very often here, and suppresses voting by making people feel there is no point.
                      I am a pragmatic person, and look for the very best of what’s available when it comes to government; those who will do their best to make sure people aren’t harmed. What I actually would like to have from government is: a home for everyone, health care (not insurance but actual care) for everyone, a basic income, and good food and clean water and air for everyone. As I said, I’m pragmatic, and I know I’m not going to get all of that, at least not in my lifetime. But I know that cutting down the people who are working hard to at least prevent harm is only going to harm. (Look where we are right now.) And that’s when you and I disagree. If Schumer is the only not-Republican stepping up to do his particular job, then Schumer is who I would vote for. Fortunately I don’t have to, but no Dem can even afford to run for US Senate in KS, so there’s that. We’ve got a guy-Michael Soetart-running now. I’m doing what I can for him, but he’s foundering. I think he’d be a fine Senator if he can get there, but the Republicans will pour money in at the last minute to do what they can to defeat him. The best hope is that voters remember that “Doc” Marshall has screwed everyone here 6 ways to Sunday, ant they’ll protest vote. It is unfortunate, though, that KS Republicans don’t protest vote; they simply withhold their vote, and the Republican still wins even with a low general voter percentage. It’s still higher than the Dem or Indy will get. Maybe this year will be the year…

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                    5. Hi Ali. Please let me know if what I write is incorrect so I can adjust it. I will put what you write in bold so I and others know what I am addressing. Just to go over what we talked about before the reply I am making is in no way a personal attack on you, just a difference of opinion or a request for clarification.

                      … until you paint every Democrat with that brush, which happens very often here, and suppresses voting by making people feel there is no point.

                      Ali I do not see how I am doing that. I know you have made that comment before but I just don’t see how reporting the truth and my opinion is causing a depression of the vote. You never make it clear to me. I simply say what the democratic leadership is doing and reporting on it. I also have reported / posted about other younger active Democrats I support. I don’t think I have ever advised or suggested that anyone not vote for Democrats even though the main party / leadership doesn’t support my idea of where the country should go. I am more of a DSN member and used to call myself first a liberal, then a progressive, now a Democratic Socialist. I think this is the largest point of contention / stress we have.

                      Again I can only go on what you write and I do not read minds, and I think I have been on the spectrum most of my life as I only recently have been able to read people’s expressions, so I really would love you to explain how I am causing the public, especially the young voting public to simply not vote.

                      and look for the very best of what’s available when it comes to government; those who will do their best to make sure people aren’t harmed. What I actually would like to have from government is: a home for everyone, health care (not insurance but actual care) for everyone, a basic income, and good food and clean water and air for everyone. As I said, I’m pragmatic, and I know I’m not going to get all of that, at least not in my lifetime. Ali we agree totally. The only caveat I have is that I want to fight the fight reaching for those things rather than just accepting the limitations. I say that because those fights move the Overton Window back to the left which we need to do as the right has moved it so far to the hard right.

                       But I know that cutting down the people who are working hard to at least prevent harm is only going to harm. (Look where we are right now.)  Ali this is the big point. I do not see corporate Democrats as trying to help the people more than saving themselves, their power, their access to wealth, and the rotating cycles of sacrificial lambs that let those Democrats vote for what the big donors want with the least harm. I could go back over the things I have posted but I think we both already know them. The fact is I keep going back to the strange emergency reelection to get rid of David Hogg who came out supporting primarying corporate democrats which the leadership panicked over. But when Graham Platner was surging with democratic voters the Schumer leadership spent months trying to push Janet Mills a 79 year old woman to run and then opened two big money PACs for her. Why? Because she was a corporate democrtate that said publicly she would support Schumer for leadership but Platner said he wouldn’t.

                      Pelosi had a rule one cycle after AOC got elected running against an incumbent that anyone who ran against an incumbent couldn’t be supported and not given seats on committees. The very next cycle she supported and gave the entire DNC / House monetary support for a primary challenge to a progressive incumbent in favor of a new corporate challenger. See the point I am making?

                      If Schumer is the only not-Republican stepping up to do his particular job, then Schumer is who I would vote for. Ali, this is the old vote blue no matter who. I agree 100% in the general. But not the primary. In the primary that is when people should vote for who best represents their beliefs and causes. I voted for Elizabeth Warren in the 2020 primary but voted for Biden in the general even though I hated what Biden stood for. I felt he was just going to continue the “lets only change small stuff and focus on procedure rather than actually addressing the needs of the poorest people” I was correct as he wanted Republicans’ support for his big signature bill that he let Sinema and Manchin decimate it. Plus he let Republicans push it back to the point where tRump is getting credit for what Biden did manage to get passed. Which Schumer supported recently which I posted. When a reporter tried to tell a cabinet member that the thing he was promoting as a tRump win was done with no Republican support Schumer interjected to stop the question and claim that it did not matter at all. It really does matter. Schumer missed the point to hammer a point home. That is why I dislike Schumer so much, he let tRump republicans take credit for what Democrats fought for and got done.

                      The best hope is that voters remember that “Doc” Marshall has screwed everyone here 6 ways to Sunday, ant they’ll protest vote. Ali you have a voice and a platform to voice that. Here! Post such criticisms and post your complaints and your reasons for support for your candidate. You have the posting power. Use it please. We still need to address if you want more authority to do stuff on the blog but we need to do that tomorrow as I have not even made supper and it is 5:35 here.

                      It is unfortunate, though, that KS Republicans don’t protest vote; they simply withhold their vote, and the Republican still wins even with a low general voter percentage. It’s still higher than the Dem or Indy will get. Maybe this year will be the year… Oh Ali, wonderful big sister energy Ali. I understand this and it is a hope each election I hold my nose and vote for a Democrat who doesn’t support my views but is better than the Republican.

                      OK I really enjoyed this dicusion / conversation and hope you feel the same. I asked a few questions I would love to read your responses to. But I have not even started supper and I wonder if I should. I was in such pain earlier I couldn’t even flex my fingers, so I went into my saved medication and took some of the older stronger medications that I was prescribed. I really hate to think what will happen when I run out of those. Again I love this conversation, and thank you for sharing your thoughts with me. Hugs

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                    7. That was OK as to the previous discussion. Now, as to supper, I bet you’re past that, since it’s a quarter of nine here. I hope you ate. You had some good stuff to finish off!😋

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            2. Hi Ali. I already replied to this comment but if you will let me I want to add this. It is 8:15 pm here. I just had a long talk with Kamyk. He really thinks I need to keep in therapy. He listened and we talked about each of our abuse and I started to break down and he then explained by just my reaction I needed to keep with therapy. But as I told him I did not want to disclose all of what I went through. He explained that was the results of the beatings and other things I went through not to talk. He told me I wouldn’t be able to heal unless I did get a trauma therapist and did tell them. Then I sort of freaked out and ended the conversation. Any way. Hugs

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              1. Well, are you gonna be OK this evening, or is it starting to really bug you? Can you pet Tupac, and watch some Picard for the evening? To me, right now, therapy isn’t something you need to think about because you can’t do anything about it right now. So, think about it at breakfast time, and give your spirit a break. To me, right now-5 minutes until 9 your time, that seems like what would be good to do. You’ll know what to do in the morning. Hugs.

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      1. No worries! People can likely find it while on the WIRED page, without having to sign in. I get their newsletters, and don’t normally have that happen since I click through their letter.

        I subscribed last year after they broke some news that I actually no longer recall thanks to the s–tflood of these two years. I appreciated the quick, thorough reporting, and that they took the risk of publishing it when the others were either overlooking it, or pussyfooting around it. I wish I could remember what it was! But WIRED had a sale on the sub, so I subscribed to show support. I think it expired, by now.

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  2. Hi Ali. Thanks for the links. I have a doctor’s appointment this morning, but when I get back I will give them a read. Sadly I have been so busy posting I have not followed much of what you have been posting. I look forward to your posts on this stuff. We need to be prepared and ready as you say, have a plan for how to fight back but also be safe. Got to run for now. Hugs

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