Crediblity matters when government needs people to support various programs.
People have earned a right to be skeptical.
Some people may feel they have been run in circles by various levels of government for an extended period of time.
Will elected officials and the press acknowledge this possibility?
In Washington State
Government is trusted to do the right thing by operating the Employment Security Department.
Nov 30, 2020 OregonLive
Auditor: Washington state agency head slowing investigation into massive unemployment fraud
“…Investigation into massive fraud resulting in the theft of hundreds of millions of taxpayer dollars.”
“State Auditor Pat McCarthy said Employment Security Department Commissioner Suzi LeVine imposed “significant constraints” on auditors — including limiting interviews with key employees and delaying access to important documents, The Seattle Times reported.”
January of 2021
The head of Washington state’s unemployment office is leaving for a job with the Biden-Harris administration.
Commissioner LeVine leaving WA unemployment office to join Biden administration
“LeVine was appointed to head the ESD in 2018 by Gov. Inslee, and confirmed by the state Senate in the following legislative session.”
“It’s unclear at this time what job LeVine is taking with the new administration, but she has served as an ambassador for the U.S. government in the past.”
Why are voters presented with issues on the ballot that may not be legally decided by voters?
Every vote counts?
October 15, 2020 Crosscut
WA Supreme Court rules $30 car tab initiative is unconstitutional
Public Safety Dealbreaker
Washington State Patrol yields the right of way to protests on I-5.
July 5, 2020 KIRO 7
Death of I-5 protester sparks end of nighttime freeway protests
“But the Washington State Patrol looked the other way, even setting up barriers during the nearly three weeks of nighttime protests on the freeway.”
After enabling criminal conduct, WSP will no longer enable criminal conduct:
“Blocking a freeway is a crime and no longer are we going to enable that criminal conduct to continue,” said State Patrol Capt. Ron Mead, who made the decision to no longer close the interstate. “We are not going to be allowing protesters to access the freeway unimpeded, and there are consequences for criminal conduct.”
“State Patrol had shut down the interstate 19 nights in a row in response to protests, said Capt. Mead, who oversees the agency’s district that includes King County. For weeks, troopers operated in response to protesters’ movements, shutting down a stretch of the interstate when it looked as if protesters would enter the roadway.”
January of 2021
Plenty of time to get Seattle violence under control?
Jan 21 2021 KOMO News
After another violent night of protests, Seattle police speak out about their tactics
Governor Inslee,
Not disputing the mask requirement, but telling us that COVID-19 is a life and death concern requiring regular people to stay home from work and designating marijuana and booze sales as essential, may have made people wonder about the science here.
January of 2021
In the entire history of Washington State, how many times has any group attempted to breach a gate at the governor’s mansion because they were unsatisfied with public policy?
Which Governors have been in office when this has happened at any time in history?
Will elected officials and the press acknowledge that things may be different now?
More here:
WWII Generation Endured Rationing With Little Complaint
WA – Dining Outside While Sealed Inside A Tent Is Legal
Play by the rules and we’ll make more rules
Both Whidbey papers have stripped away all comments from past articles, and removed the opportunity to post comments to new articles.
This is the trend in the Puget Sound area.
Newspapers are suppressing or eliminating online comment sections. A forum for individual thought is not part of the plan. Newspapers are getting away from asking questions related to public policy while telling us they need more support from subscription and advertising sales.
The Press Is Weak – Newspaper Revenue Down Compared To 20 Years Ago
Podcast 8 Senator Cantwell and the local press
Press might need less bailout cash if it was more in the habit of asking questions
4 Stories The Puget Sound Press Will Not Question Or Report On
The idea is to live in a free and honest society.
Suppressing Choices – One Size Fits All
Northern California – One Size Fits All
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Photo-
A trip to the state park might be a chance to leave the pressures of the world behind for an hour or two.
Preemptive warning notices will snap your mind back to reality before you even start your visit at the park.
Shut Off The TV And Get Outside For A Bit