Gang strike force deserves credit for its good work

Having dealt with drug seizures, forfeitures, grants and budgets, I know this is something not learned in the police academy .

[Gndydncr]

John W. Milton chooses to ignore several other choices.
1. His doctor chose not to be contracted with his current insurer.
2. He can choose to remain with his current doctor and pay the bill himself.
3. He can switch insurers to one the good doctor is contracted with.

Insurer's cannot tell you what to do. They can only tell you what they won't do. Mr. Milton claims the poll was done by the New York Times and CBS. I can't think of any news organizations more left than they are. They probably cherry picked their respondents. The outcome of such a poll is completely predictable.

[Gndydncr]

Pete Chase makes a very salient point. The Obama administration seems to be on a track that rewards irresponsible people. I've heard several stories about responsible home owners who are current with their mortgages and want to refinance with government assistance but are denied because the funds are reserved for the delinquent mortgagees. Go figuren.

[Randie K]

Gene Burke, you are a complete joke of human being.
The strike force is as dirty as your buddy.

[Former Ranger]

John W Milton, Afton, let's model our government run health program after a country where it works. Wait..........there isn't any.
Don't you for one moment question a poll by CBS and the NY Times? Let's see what results the same poll wopuld get if Fox News did it!

[gzaiger]

The current health care system is broken. Millions of people, including full-time employed people, don't have and can't get insureance. Either they're denied because of a pre-exsisting condition, or they can't afford the outrageous premiums. So, we all pay the bill for them while the insurance companies make millions. I'm sick of it.
The government simply can't make it any worse, and dang it, we got to do something!

I agree 100% with the letter writer. Everything we fear is already happening. Chose not to be with my current insurer? It's through my job, I have no choice. I could not afford the premiums for a self-funded insurer - I'd have to sell everything I owned and go broke. So, I'm forced to go to a clinic of their chosing. You can say people have choices - it's flippant and simply not true. You have choices if your a millionaire, and I'm not. I want the government to provide leadership and something different - heck, anything different!!!

[Margie Gunderson]

Mr Burke: if the Metro Gang Task Force was doing such a wonderful job, why is that family in Mpls suing them big-time for property invasion and false arrest? And guess what? The family is going to win a big-time settlement too. And guess who will pay for that? Thanks, gang task force.

[Mellers]

Pete Chase: I'm genuinely curious: what do you recommend? Don't you think that the bigger picture is a good one-more small cars on the road (stimulating the auto industry), less auto exhaust being emitted, and less demand for oil? Sounds like a win-win-win to me. Yes, I would have been in the same boat before I sold my car last year (2002 Saturn SL-fairly fuel efficient) but I would have shrugged and thought, "I've already done the right thing on my own!"

[Mellers]

Gndydncr wrote:

John W. Milton chooses to ignore several other choices.
1. His doctor chose not to be contracted with his current insurer.
2. He can choose to remain with his current doctor and pay the bill himself.
3. He can switch insurers to one the good doctor is contracted with.
Insurer's cannot tell you what to do. They can only tell you what they won't do. Mr. Milton claims the poll was done by the New York Times and CBS. I can't think of any news organizations more left than they are. They probably cherry picked their respondents. The outcome of such a poll is completely predictable.

Not all companies give you a choice of which insurance provider to go with. Even if you're offered a choice does that guarantee you that any of the programs allows you to see the one doctor of choice (the one the letter writer wants to go to).

How old are you, Gndydncr? Do you recommend dropping your health insurance and paying for a doctor out of pocket? Are you REALLY serious about that?

[Mellers]

Gndydncr wrote:

Pete Chase makes a very salient point. The Obama administration seems to be on a track that rewards irresponsible people. I've heard several stories about responsible home owners who are current with their mortgages and want to refinance with government assistance but are denied because the funds are reserved for the delinquent mortgagees. Go figuren.

Rewarding good behavior is a luxury in this economy. Stimulating the economy in creative ways with multiple goals/outcomes is a necessity.

[Gndydncr]

Mellers wrote:

<quoted text>
Rewarding good behavior is a luxury in this economy. Stimulating the economy in creative ways with multiple goals/outcomes is a necessity.

Have you felt any stimulation yet?

[Agree]

I happen to agree with Mr. Burke. It seems some people have forgotten the risks that these officers take every day. They literally put their own lives on the line to protect OURS! I read the entire transcript of Ron Ryan. It is painfully obvious that this unit needed more administrative help. I could care less about the cars or the cash. Considering that they had virtually no administrative assistance from the local agencies they represent, it is a small wonder that they did not lose track of more than they did. What I do care about is that these officers continue to put the scumbags, who terrorize our communties, behind bars where they belong. I'd rather see cops doing what cops are paid to do than see crimes and murders go unsolved because of this political three ring circus someone started.

[Gndydncr]

Mellers wrote:

<quoted text>
Not all companies give you a choice of which insurance provider to go with. Even if you're offered a choice does that guarantee you that any of the programs allows you to see the one doctor of choice (the one the letter writer wants to go to).
How old are you, Gndydncr? Do you recommend dropping your health insurance and paying for a doctor out of pocket? Are you REALLY serious about that?

Your points are valid. Maybe the bigger questions are what kind of an insurance company does he have that doesn't include a traditional doctor? Is he dealing with a traditional doctor? Has the doctor been incited/convicted of insurance fraud? Lots of missing data. Not ready to feel sorry for him yet.

There was a time when I was covered by an HMO through my employer. A family member was badly burned. The HMO doctor referred the patient to a burn specialist with prerequesite paperwork. The patient spent a month in the burn unit of Regions Hospital with weekly/bi-weekly follow up visits for many, many months afterward. The HMO required me to get a referral for every single one of those visits instead of authorizing one umbrella referral for a specific condition and letting it apply until the condition is resolved.. It cost me $600 out of pocket everytime I forgot one of those referrals and they wouldn't allow retroactive referrals. I hated having to deal with the HMO but couldn't affort anything else. All I could do was bide my time until the employer went with traditional coverage. Fortunately, the employer recognized the hassle the HMO's put his employee's through and opted for traditional insurance when the contract ran out.

My fear is that the government plan is going to be one big HMO and I will hate it. I will not be able to bide my time until it goes away because it will never go away. It will be a never-ending life-long miserable nightmare. Mr. Milton hasn't seen anything yet.

How old am I? Older than most, younger than many.

[Mellers]

Gndydncr wrote:

<quoted text>
Have you felt any stimulation yet?

Ummmm.....

[Mellers]

Gndydncr wrote:

<quoted text>
Your points are valid. Maybe the bigger questions are what kind of an insurance company does he have that doesn't include a traditional doctor? Is he dealing with a traditional doctor? Has the doctor been incited/convicted of insurance fraud? Lots of missing data. Not ready to feel sorry for him yet.
There was a time when I was covered by an HMO through my employer. A family member was badly burned. The HMO doctor referred the patient to a burn specialist with prerequesite paperwork. The patient spent a month in the burn unit of Regions Hospital with weekly/bi-weekly follow up visits for many, many months afterward. The HMO required me to get a referral for every single one of those visits instead of authorizing one umbrella referral for a specific condition and letting it apply until the condition is resolved.. It cost me $600 out of pocket everytime I forgot one of those referrals and they wouldn't allow retroactive referrals. I hated having to deal with the HMO but couldn't affort anything else. All I could do was bide my time until the employer went with traditional coverage. Fortunately, the employer recognized the hassle the HMO's put his employee's through and opted for traditional insurance when the contract ran out.
My fear is that the government plan is going to be one big HMO and I will hate it. I will not be able to bide my time until it goes away because it will never go away. It will be a never-ending life-long miserable nightmare. Mr. Milton hasn't seen anything yet.
How old am I? Older than most, younger than many.

Your unanswered questions are good ones. Neither of us can know the answers (unless the letter writer decides to jump in and enlighten us).

Referrals are very annoying to deal with. I've been fortunate to get blanket referrals for a number of minor issues over the past 2 years, and even one time when I forgot to get one ahead of time, the doctor wanting me to be referred called the insurance company for me. I've had some of the most amazing people helping me, from nurses, doctors, insurance provider individuals and others I'm probably forgetting.

I'm definitely guessing you would choose to not drop your health insurance and pay on your own. Anyone of any age is most likely wanting to keep health insurance coverage over paying their own bills, if they have any sort of medical history.

I do appreciate your fear. I respect it, even if my opinion is that it won't be as bad as the pessimists fear. I don't know much on the topic, but it can't be much worse than we have it now.

[Gndydncr]

Mellers wrote:

<quoted text>
Do you recommend dropping your health insurance and paying for a doctor out of pocket? Are you REALLY serious about that?

Keep in mind that only individuals pay all medical costs and all insurance costs, including CEO's salaries and all their staff down to the night time cleaning ladies. Employers use their customer's money to pay the health insurance premiums. If employers did not pay for health insurance, the price of their services and/or products would be less making your dollars go further. Alternatively, employers could pay the employees the equivalent of the health insurance in wages which would not be a bad idea providing the government didn't tax it away from us. Which reminds me, what do you think of Obama's plan to treat employer paid health insurance as a taxable benefit to employees? You being a government worker and all, with the Gucci health plan, could cost you a few bucks.:) Overall health care costs to the patient would be less if we could take insurance companies out of the mix.

[Gndydncr]

Mellers wrote:

<quoted text>
... my opinion is that it won't be as bad as the pessimists fear.

I hope you're right and I'm wrong.

[Freedom Lover]

Single Payer Health Care Makes Sense.
As Mr. Milton points out so well, the "choice" in health care providers has been shrinking more and more as everyone is forced into these "group" health care plans. All for the "luxury" of allowing health care giants reap more profits and dictate the quality and course of treatments. Anyone crying foul about choices being limited under a single payer model is protecting their own interests. Of course, the one thing to watch and take especially close attention to would be the process whereby treatments and coverages would be determined. I think there is just fear in that process being in government control. But estimates of $60 billion a year in "administrative" B.S. by the health care giants as they haggle with providers and chart the course of treatment is enough of an incentive to go down this path.

As to the contention that the Metro Gang Task force is doing "good work:"
There are more and more things coming to the surface, and they aren't calling in the FBI to have a tea party to congratulate the task force for their efforts. Think about it: it's not like they HAD to continue to go out and raid and loot and pillage under the guise of the drug war. If you are taking in so much cash, property and vehicles that you "can't keep up" administratively, perhaps your efforts have become just a WEEEEE bit over-zealous and it's time to slow down. There is corruption deeper than just the task force. Bob Fletcher is dirty in all of this. The judges that sign these B.S. search warrants are responsible. There likely will be little review of their misdeeds. Utilizing criminals as informants to justify these police state actions is hardly sound police work. Basic protocols for being accountable for your work don't get a free pass just because they are cops. In fact, being our 4th amendment rights are at stake protecting us from unreasonable search and seizure, I'd implore people to keep an eye on such police misconduct before our rights are eroded completely. Don't be apologists for the cops. Not every neighborhood is in a state of criminal deterioration and we don't need to cling to the notion that we need cops to "protect" us. Open your eyes. Not all cops are bad, but they wield enough power that abuses of said power should be met with utter disapproval and proper criminal penalty. Crime with a badge is still crime. Anyone else would go to jail for it.

[Randie K]

What are you blowing him?

Agree wrote:

I happen to agree with Mr. Burke. It seems some people have forgotten the risks that these officers take every day. They literally put their own lives on the line to protect OURS! I read the entire transcript of Ron Ryan. It is painfully obvious that this unit needed more administrative help. I could care less about the cars or the cash. Considering that they had virtually no administrative assistance from the local agencies they represent, it is a small wonder that they did not lose track of more than they did. What I do care about is that these officers continue to put the ****, who terrorize our communties, behind bars where they belong. I'd rather see cops doing what cops are paid to do than see crimes and murders go unsolved because of this political three ring circus someone started.

[Not Impressed]

Look what's goin' on in West Saint Paul?

Last January it was WSP Mayor John Zanmiller who is also a MPLS Police Officer who was under investigation, he was cleared, however, the 10 page letter that started the Investigation was a real EYE OPENER!!
Check it out www.wspwatchdogs.com

Now it's WSP Police Chief Manilla/Bud Shaver who was ultimately responsible for the the activities of the "Metro Gang Strike Force" as the Advisory Board Chair, who is under investigation for more SCANDALOUS BEHAVIOR!

Then last summer it was brought to my attention that once AGAIN PROPER PROCEDURES WERE NOT FOLLOWED in regards to the application of the Guild Boarding House located on Emerson East.
Chief Shaver attends ALL of the WSP Council Mtgs. City Council Meeting 28JUL08.

Well one thing is for certain in WSP they lack Integrity and Professionalism!

From what I have seen, heard, read and experienced my conclusion is plain and simple; these gentlemen chose not to follow proper PROTOCOL.
It has nothing to do with an Administrative shortage Sir!

These were "BASIC INTERNAL CONTROLS" that the MSFG failed to develope to properly SAFEGUARD or account for all seized cash, vehicles and/or property.
Keyword here Sir, "BASIC".

The Strike Force "FREQUENTLY" did not follow the States Statutory Forfeiture procedures! Why Bud?

Maybe it's time WSP gets an Audit-
Cause WSP is nothin' but the "City of "SHADY SHXT"!!

And I DO believe there are things that need to be addressed here before "things" can come to an end....Wouldn't you agree Mr. Burke?

[Swift Kicker]

Mr. Burke-Sounds like you deserve nothin' less than a good ol' swift kick to the A$$!

We all know a Police Officers job is dangerous and has always been a rather thankless profession,
however, they knew this when they signed up and THIS goes far beyond poor bookkeeping.

When you deprive someone of their personal property without due process, that is THEFT. If you know of such THEFT and do not report it, you are also guilty of THEFT!

What ever happened to "SERVE" and "PROTECT"?

I beleive the MGSF has acted well outside the law!
We deserve better than this from our hard earned tax dollars!!

And to you "AGREE" the only thing painfully obvious is that your obviously an IDIOT!