Reached max saturation about mid-December. Thinking I would be more at peace if I took a break form sharing/posting and commenting on Twitter Re: news-related items.
Hard to stay away.
Maybe I can post just once a week?
The desire is to live in a free and honest society.
The conflict is in turning it off and calling it out.
Calling it out:
People get their information from the TV, political parties and political personalities.
The press tends to promote what they are told.
The press tends not to question it.
The press release style of news reporting means that a statement is prepared by whatever agency was involved in the latest drug bust/federal grant money award, etc. Newspeople post this statement as is.
A 5th grade book report would require more in the way of asking questions.
The press functions like an advertisement for public policy.
Promoters-not questioners.
The press is good with the Drug War.
Voting is highly emphasized in American culture. Asking questions related to public policy takes a lower priority.
Are newspeople forbidden to ask questions related to Homeland Security funding and performance?
What We Have Now
A $51.6 billion US Dept. of Homeland Security that fails to keep cartel product from showing up all over the US.
Billions of dollars spent every 12 months to keep bad people from coming here to do bad things.
Newspeople ask zero questions in this area.
Lessons Learned?
Anytime there is a plane crash, a loss at sea, or an industrial accident, a thorough investigation takes place. Lessons learned are used to prevent future accidents.
Any similar effort after a big drug bust?
Preventing drugs from entering local communities would kill the chance for various agencies to get publicity for the occasional big drug bust happening in those communities.
Snohomish 2015
Local law enforcement agencies may benefit when the US Dept. of Homeland Security fails to keep heroin out of the US.
Seattle media: Heroin busts could finance police construction in Snohomish
Opioid lawsuit update:
Dec. 19, 2020 SFGATE
Overdose deaths far outpace COVID-19 deaths in San Francisco
Always Reported as a Highly Successful Team Effort – The Big Puget Sound Drug Bust
Dec 16, 2020 Q13 Fox
“Overdose deaths attributed to fentanyl and methamphetamine continue to rise at an alarming rate in the Puget Sound region,” stated DEA Special Agent in Charge Frank Tarentino.
Federal agents swing into action after heroin, cocaine and methamphetamine move past federal agents manning a $51.6 billion US Dept. of Homeland Security-then on into a multi-state area:
Eleven people indicted in drug trafficking conspiracy in Pierce, King and Snohomish counties
An advertisement for public agencies:
“This case is part of an Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETF) investigation. OCDETF identifies, disrupts, and dismantles the highest-level drug traffickers, money launderers, gangs, and transnational criminal organizations that threaten the United States by using a prosecutor-led, intelligence-driven, multi-agency approach that leverages the strengths of federal, state, and local law enforcement agencies against criminal networks.”
Welcome Home Troops
Thanks for risking your ass in Iraq & Afghanistan-working to keep bad people from coming here to do bad things.
Don’t worry-The Super Bowl and public affairs will be safe:
Love to see newspeople schedule an interview with the US Dept. of Homeland Security & ask:
Are passports/enhanced/Real IDs effective in keeping cartel-sourced product out of the US?
Standard driver’s licenses have not been accepted at the border since 2009.
We’d love to see newspeople asking questions.
State-Run Media/CBP Social Media Posts
CBP tells us:
Nothing gets past @CBP’s K9 units!
Nothing gets past @CBP’s K9 units?
Surely, a free and independent press will step up and ask for clarification on this wild CBP claim.
Hey newspeople, how did 2,224 pounds of meth tied to the Sinaloa cartel enter Riverside County, if nothing gets past @CBP’s K9 units?
Why is there a deadly fentanyl problem in Eastern Washington if nothing gets past CBP social media posts?
Questions we’d love to see newspeople ask:
Have opioid lawsuits played any role in keeping deadly fentanyl from arriving in Eastern Washington?
Newspeople post whatever press release is handed off.
A 5th grade book report would require more in the way of asking questions.
Dec 22, 2020 Radio Pacific, Inc
CUTTER ACTIVE RETURNS TO PORT ANGELES AFTER MASSIVE COCAINE INTERDICTIONS
“The Coast Guard Cutter Active returned to its homeport of Port Angeles Friday following a 46-day deployment to the Eastern Pacific Ocean, and unloaded 4,200 kg of cocaine worth $159 million.”
“The Active’s crew patrolled over 10,000 total nautical miles off the coast of Central America, deployed with an armed Coast Guard helicopter crew that specializes in Airborne Use of Force and drug-interdiction missions, helping the Active search for, detect and stop, drug smuggling vessels.”
Do these efforts play any role in keeping meth and heroin from entering the Olympic Peninsula?
Newspeople remain silent.
Local meth news stories here.
Local heroin news stories here.
A cycle that repeats:
June 15, 2017 Coast Guard comes home to Heroin at Port Angeles
Has General Milley’s bold pledge to clobber the cartels played any role in keeping cartel product from entering the US?
Would the DEA be out of work if General Milley was going to act on his pledge to clobber the cartels?
Newspeople remain silent.
COVID
If a COVID-19 vaccination is a good idea (not challenging it here) why the big sell?
Dec 15, 2020 19thnews
“Of course women of color were among the first to get vaccinated”
It’s like a moment of silence has been called for. It’s like man first landing on the moon anytime someone in whatever zip code gets the first vaccination.
People have earned a right to be skeptical.
Dec 16, 2020 KIRO Radio
WA analyst: State mislabeled some drug, injury deaths as COVID related
“We found cases of people who on the death certificates died from meth overdose, from alcoholic liver disease…”
“…a number of elderly individuals died after a fall and sustaining, you know, blunt force injuries in a fall.”
The people of Ohio need services in support of U.S. European Command:
Dec 20, 2020 FOX 8 News
Soldier send off: Deployment ceremony held for Ohio Army National Guard unit
Any members of the press available to ask:
Is there any military emergency, national emergency, draft, or declaration of war, linked to this movement of troops?
Reporting The News by Press Release
Dec 20, 2020 News 5 Cleveland
Just 5 days before Christmas, about 50 soldiers from Ohio Army National Guard deploy for 1 year
The European Deterrence Initiative, which the soldiers are being deployed to serve in, is meant to “enhance the U.S. deterrence posture, increase the readiness and responsiveness of U.S. forces in Europe, support the collective defense and security of NATO allies, and bolster the security and capacity of U.S. allies and partners.”
Did the advantage of NATO allow the undeclared wars in Iraq or Afghanistan to be prevented, won or shut down?
December 20, 2020 Peninsula Daily News
“The young pilots who fly the EA-18 Growlers out of NAS Whidbey are part of our military that keeps our country safe and free.”
The idea that military aircraft are somehow linked to American freedoms calls for more discussion.
While the troops were deployed, federal law was signed prohibiting the sale of tobacco products to adults age 18-20. Can elected officials of any party or any member of the press help us to understand the militarized version of freedom here?
The US should maintain strong and ready military forces.
In some cases, the US Armed Forces provide for our security. That’s as good as it gets.
In terms of American rights and freedoms-The Dept. of Defense has no more say than the Dept. of Agriculture.
Legal marijuana, concealed carry of handguns, semi automatic rifle sales, federal minimum drinking age, sports betting, voting rights, bump stock ban, interracial marriage, gay marriage, tobacco sales, open container laws, etc.
None of these are linked in any way with The Joint Chiefs of Staff, The Troops, The Dept. of Defense or the outcome of military operations overseas.
As the decades of undeclared/unwon wars stack up (The Department of Defense track record goes back to 1949.) the greater the cultural urge to glorify people who do, or did time in uniform.
If there is an honest reason to send people away into decades of undeclared/unwon wars overseas let’s hear all about it.
Just Be Honest.
How Do The Troops Defend The Constitution?
Not asking about the oath of enlistment. Asking about what happens after the oath has been taken.
Created a new category to make a transition away from 2020. This category is meant to look at positive images and memories that have nothing to do with news, politics, TV, public policy, political parties, etc.
View this new category here.
Music is another way to enjoy a positive look at the world.
News-related content:
WWII Generation Endured Rationing With Little Complaint
Now People Don’t Want to Listen About Not Traveling for Thanksgiving
The Press Is Weak – Newspaper Revenue Down Compared To 20 Years Ago
4 Stories The Puget Sound Press Will Not Question Or Report On
Growing Up In The Cold War Era
Restricted Activities – Guilty Until Proven Innocent
Central Control & WA Lockdowns
One Size Fits All Society Experiment
Don’t miss our companion blog-found here: Old Man Blog
Find us on Twitter: https://twitter.com/yeomalt
Photo-
Occasionally Looking for the Coupeville Ferry
Coupeville/Penn Cove is on the eastern shore of Whidbey Island-no ferry link to Port Townsend exists there.