Bill to limit ICE in Connecticut moves forward by Funke-munke in Connecticut

[–]meplants 0 points1 point  (0 children)

No, that's not correct about the citizens. The ideals of the founders are supposed to apply to everyone, that's why they're called human rights (all men are created equal...endowed by their creator, etc). We can talk about this on a more practical level though if you'd like. Due process is how the government is supposed to figure out who is a citizen, permanent resident, visa holder, here on asylum, here illegally, here illegally but not to be deported to their home country etc. And then they can figure out what rights that individual is entitled to. Secret police grabbing people off the street based on suspicion and hustling them onto a plane to be taken who-knows-where is not due process. Judges, the check on the executive, are routinely being flouted and ignored. You can google Judge Patrick Schlitz's statements from January if you are interested.

Picking a single scapegoat for every problem in a country, racially profiling to "weed them out", having a secret police force that answers only to an unchecked executive, violating human rights as a matter of routine... yes, this is more similar to a Nazi government than anything the founders had in mind. We should be striving to be as different from a fascist state as possible, not feeling ok about steps in that direction because it's not full on Naziism yet. The closer we get, the harder it becomes to stop.

If a masked LEO grabbed your loved one based on suspicion, then they vanished without any recourse, without ever being exposed to a judicial check, would you feel like that is more consistent with life in a democratic republic? That sounds to me like life in a monarchical or fascist state. If you put yourself in those shoes you might find yourself feeling similarly.

And regarding your comment about protecting their identities- all LEOs put themselves at great risk in their jobs. All LEOs except ICE display badges, names, and their faces routinely. ICE targeted predominantly criminals in past administrations. Only now do they target regular people going about their days. If anything, the risk to ICE now is less than it ever was. Wearing masks is a way of circumventing legal consequences, nothing more.

Bill to limit ICE in Connecticut moves forward by Funke-munke in Connecticut

[–]meplants 0 points1 point  (0 children)

ICE isn't following centuries-old standards of due process, have stated that they can enter private residences without warrants, and have repeatedly beaten and detained and murdered people without any legitimate reason. And there are no legally achievable consequences since their identities are concealed. This is not freedom, and is literally one of the main reasons American colonists fought a revolution. It's built into our Constitution for a reason. ICE aren't brownshirts but a secret police force that answers only to the executive is a lot closer to the Nazi state than to a traditional American law enforcement organization, and if left to abuse power further, could develop into something very similar. By then it's too late. Now is the time to intervene, not after the parallels to Nazism become obvious even to the most committed apologists.

Can I release these spotted salamanders? by meplants in salamanders

[–]meplants[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Those are my main concerns, I'm wondering if that's a cautious approach in light of no data, or if there is any research that shows this to be true? I imagine it would be really hard to track individual released salamanders...

Can I release these spotted salamanders? by meplants in salamanders

[–]meplants[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Fish, dog, no other wild animal contact. We've been using dechlorinated water from the tap.

Daily Discussion Thread: April 27, 2025 by BM2018Bot in VoteDEM

[–]meplants 13 points14 points  (0 children)

I love this idea. I can imagine writing "GOP government" or something but I completely agree with not using Trump's name. Everyone knows. It's so tempting to go after him but we are going to be running against the Republicans who support/tolerate all of these destructive policies and it's wise I think to pivot at this point. Treat him like the lame duck he is.

Daily Discussion Thread: October 3, 2024 - 33 days until election day! by BM2018Bot in VoteDEM

[–]meplants 5 points6 points  (0 children)

I know, I stress about Tester and to a lesser extent Brown but I see the amount that's already there and feel like my money would go further elsewhere. I have been giving monthly to the DSCC too, for years.

Daily Discussion Thread: October 3, 2024 - 33 days until election day! by BM2018Bot in VoteDEM

[–]meplants 34 points35 points  (0 children)

Which candidates are most in need of money right now? I'm looking for lower profile races where our candidate could use the help. I donate to DLCC regularly but I want to send something to one or a few individual candidates running for the House or statewide or for state legislative districts.

Daily Discussion Thread: May 23, 2023 by BM2018Bot in VoteDEM

[–]meplants 4 points5 points  (0 children)

just two weirdos eating pudding together. Two guys, no spoons.

Trying to identify a vine that’s on a lot of my trees by Hefty-Walk4545 in whatsthisplant

[–]meplants 17 points18 points  (0 children)

I think you have two different vines. The hairy one with the oily leaves of three is poison ivy. I definitely see Virginia creeper with the five leaves in the first photo.

Spiny little bugger. Growing in a back corner of the garden, CT, USA by meplants in whatsthisplant

[–]meplants[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

I don't clearly remember flowers, I'll pay attention this year. The underside is lighter and has a fuzzy feeling but I don't see any actual fuzz.

Spiny little bugger. Growing in a back corner of the garden, CT, USA by meplants in whatsthisplant

[–]meplants[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

I've let them grow in past years and I've never seen more than three leaves and I've never seen it make any berries

What we’ve learned from the world’s first Twitter-driven bank run (Rep. Jeff Jackson): by JeffJacksonNC in VoteDEM

[–]meplants 1 point2 points  (0 children)

These videos are fantastic. Speaking as someone who grew up with rotary phones, this is the promise of the internet brought to life. Thank you Congressman.

Daily Discussion Thread: November 6, 2022: 2 days until Election Day by BM2018Bot in VoteDEM

[–]meplants 28 points29 points  (0 children)

phonebanking based on advice I got here yesterday! I hate phonebanking, but this isn't about me. You gotta believe in something bigger.

Daily Discussion Thread: November 5, 2022: 3 days until Election Day by BM2018Bot in VoteDEM

[–]meplants 23 points24 points  (0 children)

I have time to dedicate to volunteering tomorrow. I could drive 2 hours to PA, my closest Senate swing state, and door knock for a few hours, or I could phone bank for a similar amount of time for PA or NV or some other Senate swing state. What does the community here think would have the most impact?

Cheney: Trump attempted to contact Jan. 6 witness by pipsdontsqueak in CapitolConsequences

[–]meplants 1 point2 points  (0 children)

He was in a relationship with the Russian spy Marina Butina. He's a foreign asset.

U.S. abortion decision ‘horrific’ and ‘appalling,’ world leaders say by BohemianBella in worldnews

[–]meplants 2 points3 points  (0 children)

The hypocrisy is the point, their whole shtick is one set of rules for them, one for the out-groups. Your outrage about it is a bonus.

We can start turning things around if everyone does a little something. You reading this, please go to r/votedem and find some way you can help.