A big election season has ended. A major cultural shift in politics has taken hold.
As the weeks go by, we can see that there is a list of things the government is not very good at. Is this list bigger than a list of the things government does well?
Alternative media is OK with asking these sorts of questions. Mainstream media seems to avoid reporting on various topics.
Podcast 8 Senator Cantwell and the local press
Mainstream – Wars for Freedom
The Troops are sent to distant lands to defend American rights and freedoms.
Local press:
“For the past couple of years, the Whidbey News-Times paid the insurance for the Veterans Day Parade, about $200, because it was a small way of saying thank you to the men and women who sacrificed so that we may have our liberties, including our Freedom of Speech.”
Altenative
Were US troops sent to Vietnam so that Americans could be free to send letters to the editor?
Is there any case in which the US Armed Forces have been sent to distant lands on a mission to protect freedom of speech?
Is protecting freedom of speech even part of training scenarios?
Military Town – Hometown Pride
Mainstream
September 27, 2019 Whidbey News-Times
Sound Off: Freedom doesn’t come free, and it’s sometimes noisy
“…the men and women of the armed forces guarantee our freedom…”
Alternative
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?
1967
Did the Joint Chiefs of Staff send The Troops to safeguard American freedoms?
Was it the Viet Cong that set up laws in 16 US states to prohibit interracial marriage?
Special Category
When news/social media posts are created by federal employees, there’s no need to deal with any awkward/real questions from the press.
Congressman Derek Kilmer:
Wars are for freedom and democracy.
Most And Least Meaningful Federal Holidays
Glorification of military service / total nonsense:
WA Secretary of State
“Our right to vote has always been protected by the brave men and women who serve in our Armed Forces.”
If a right to vote has always been protected by the brave men and women who serve in our Armed Forces, how come women were not allowed full voting rights at the end of WWI?
Why the need for a 1965 Voting Rights Act if overseas military operations somehow secured voting rights?
If a right to vote is protected by the US Armed Forces, what becomes of that right when the US leaves Syria, Lebanon, Somalia, Vietnam, Afghanistan, etc., without a victory?
Mainstream
Feb 22, 2021 Military.com
Navy Will Make All Sailors Reaffirm Oath to the Constitution in Extremism Stand-Down
Alternative
Newspeople avoid asking questions, so we’ll ask a few here.
Sending US Troops to Syria, Lebanon, Somalia, Vietnam, Afghanistan, Iraq, Bosnia, etc., is somehow defending the constitution?
What becomes of American rights and freedoms and the constitution when the US returns from distant lands without a victory?
Whatever happened to the formal congressional declaration of war?
This would be the time to hear from elected leaders and top generals Re: lessons learned on all the issues that have doomed the Department of Defense track record for winning wars since DOD was established in 1949.
The formal congressional declaration of war would also be the time for a careful review of important issues such as: PTSD, suicide, GTMO/torture, use of contractors, war crimes, a $6.4 trillion price tag, lies about freedom, propaganda, dressing women to look like men, exit strategy, mission creep, nation building, reduction of traditional military benefits offered when people signed up to stay on for multiple tours in Iraq and Afghanistan, who should register for the draft, planning ticker-tape parades and joyous celebrations, etc.
Do public schools still teach about Armistice Day?
Defending The Constitution With Decades Of Undeclared Wars
Mainstream – The Health of Local Waters
Jan 22, 2021 Whidbey News-Times
Town mayor updates residents with annual address
“This coming year is all about stormwater,” Hughes said.
“A big rainstorm in February 2020 sent “hundreds of gallons” of water rushing through the sewer plant.”
“The mayor shared that the wastewater treatment plant operators received an award from the Department of Ecology for outstanding performance.”
“We always want to do as much as we can to protect the Cove,” Hughes said.
Alternative
If the wastewater treatment plant operators received an award from the Department of Ecology for outstanding performance, why do some local beaches remain closed all year long for recreational shellfish harvest because of sewage treatment outfall?
Coupeville – just west of Captain Thomas Coupe Park
“Clams, mussels and oysters CLOSED year-round.”
“This beach is within the closure area for a sewage treatment plant outfall and is unsafe for recreational shellfish harvesting.”
Source: WDFW
North side of Penn Cove at Monroe Landing
“Clams, mussels and oysters CLOSED year-round.”
“This beach is within the closure area for a sewage treatment plant outfall and is unsafe for recreational shellfish harvesting.”
Source: WDFW
Mainstream
Feb 16, 2021 Whidbey News-Times
Small fish, big barriers: A county confronts climate change
“…workers are putting the finishing touches on Oak Harbor’s most expensive investment ever, a $150 million state-of-the-art wastewater treatment facility. Mayor Robert Severns takes pride in the purity of the water that the plant releases into Puget Sound.”
“Our citizens are paying higher rates as a result of that. It saves shellfish and salmon,” he said.
November 6, 2020 Whidbey News-Times
Sound Off | Negotiations with Navy over connecting to sewer have ceased
“This facility is built to last the next 50 years while putting high-quality water back into the Puget Sound.”
“The high cost of this facility comes from the Washington State Department of Ecology and its requirement regarding the removal of nutrients to stringent levels in order to protect endangered marine life in our Puget Sound.”
Alternative
If the purity of the water the plant releases into Puget Sound saves shellfish and salmon, why are local beaches closed all year long for recreational shellfish harvest because of sewage treatment outfall?
Oak Harbor City Park
“Clams, mussels and oysters CLOSED year-round.”
“Washington Department of Health (DOH) cautions that clams, oysters, and mussels from this beach are not fit for human consumption at any time.”
“This beach is within the closure area for a sewage treatment plant outfall and is unsafe for recreational shellfish harvesting.”
Source: WDFW
More here: Local Waters And The Puget Sound Area Press
That list of things the government is not too good at:
Staying out of, winning, or shutting down undeclared wars in distant lands.
If The Troops were an NFL team, sports talk radio would feature comments like:
The Dept. of Defense was nowhere to be found on 911. We haven’t won a war since.
Six US Presidents have now had their hands on the wheel in Iraq
The Department of Defense track record for winning undeclared wars goes back to 1949.
The mainstream press will tell us this is somehow linked to defending American rights and freedoms?
May 28, 2020 WMAR
Salisbury Mayor deploying to Africa with Maryland National Guard
Several news sources published this quote. View them here.
The idea that sending hometown troops to Africa would be linked in any way with keeping the people of Salisbury Maryland safe and free calls for more discussion.
Mayor Day,
While the troops were deployed, federal law was signed prohibiting the sale of tobacco products to adults age 18-20.
Can you help us to understand the militarized version of freedom here?
December 21st 2019 KOMO News
Legal age to buy cigarettes, vapes raised to 21 nationwide
“Signed into law by President Donald Trump Friday as part of the new $1.4 trillion spending bill, a new measure prohibits the sale of tobacco products to anyone under the age of 21.”
In the 60s & 70s I never attended a Veterans Day assembly at school.
There were none.
Probably enough veterans around to remove most of the mystique, or maybe those veterans thought it was all just an average thing and did not want to be seen as a separate part of American society, or get head of the line parking spots over at the grocery store.
Each November, school teachers across America host Veterans Day assemblies– and promote the idea to children that The Troops are in distant lands-fighting for American rights and freedoms-as if the US Armed Forces function as some sort of giant civil rights organization.
In Washington State, these assemblies are mandatory.
The VA tells teachers that The Troops are Defending Liberty and Freedom.
Love to see a student ask: If The Troops fight for your right to sit, stand, kneel, etc.-why were black people still riding at the back of the bus after the big WWII victory?
Love to see a student ask: If the wars aren’t won-how can they protect our freedom?
Love to see a student ask: Whatever happened to lessons about Armistice Day?
Mainstream
One of the nation’s largest, oldest and most respected veterans organizations:
Alternative
Veterans give rights?
It turns out The Troops were in no hurry to enable all adults to act on their right to vote.
US Military operations conducted in the 1940s, 50s & 60s didn’t get the job done.
It wasn’t until July of 1971 that 18 year old adults could take delivery on one of the freedoms we hear so much about.
Mainstream Media And 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 $49.8 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.
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.
Feb 22, 2021 KRGV
Wife of drug kingpin ‘El Chapo’ arrested on US drug charges
Alternative
Has arresting top celebrities in the drug war ever resulted in any shortage of cartel product, anywhere in the US?
Newspeople remain silent.
Federal Agents Swing Into Action – Zero Questions From Newspeople
Special Category
When news/social media posts are created by federal employees, there’s no need to deal with any awkward/real questions from the press.
In another State-Run Media/CBP Social Media Post, 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.
Away from any border crossing or port of entry:
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?
Has General Milley’s Operation Macho Swagger reduced access to cartel product in Hometown, USA?
Newspeople remain silent.
April 1, 2020 C-SPAN
WWII costume reminds us of a time before decades of undeclared/unwon wars stacked up.
The Department of Defense track record goes back to 1949.
Mainstream
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
Possibly of interest:
4 Stories The Puget Sound Press Will Not Question Or Report On
Proud Tradition – The People of WA Need Services In The Middle East
The Press Is Weak – Newspaper Revenue Down Compared To 20 Years Ago
Press might need less bailout cash if it was more in the habit of asking questions
Growing Up In The Cold War Era
Maybe Get Away From The Bragging About Freedom?
“…few service members truly know what that oath means…”
Instead of waiting for school teachers to teach about individual rights and limited government authority, waiting on the press to ask questions or courts to handle cases, these guys go out and update us with a quick reality check:
Operating A Camera In A Public Place
How Do The Troops Defend The Constitution?
Not asking about the oath of enlistment. Asking about what happens after the oath has been taken.
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