When I was 18, the WWII generation was in charge

I try to think of myself and others as individuals rather than as members of a group.

I listened to a podcast the other day. At 19:30 a discussion of the Baby Boomer generation develops and some harsh criticism is offered up:

My generation did have a turn in power and several chunks of life in our modern society have become worse.

What has changed since I was 18?

Today, people can be haunted by healthcare concerns.

People can be haunted by student loan debt.

Homelessness and drug addiction have taken hold to the extent that people are living in tents on city sidewalks.

The school lunch and breakfast program has taken hold to an extent that children might go hungry when school is out?

March 13, 2020 CNN

The coronavirus pandemic is closing schools. How will kids eat?

“But as other schools deliberate shutting their doors to slow the spread of the coronavirus, some parents may be left to wonder: If schools close, how will my child eat?”

Newspeople have moved away from asking questions since I was 18.

School breakfast & lunch program? More discussion and news coverage please.

The Dept. of Defense was nowhere to be found on 911.

We haven’t won a war since.

The Dept. of Defense has a truly poor track record for winning wars since DOD was established way back in 1949.

Any lessons learned from the Vietnam War?

Instead of putting those lessons to work, the idea that the troops are sent to distant lands to defend American rights and freedoms seems to be the primary theme today.

Americans Are OK With Lies

May 28, 2020 WMAR

Salisbury Mayor deploying to Africa with Maryland National Guard

“I am honored to do my part to ensure that the citizens of this community and all Americans remain safe and free.”

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.”

Someday, when US troops leave Africa, what will become of American rights and freedoms?

Someday, when US troops leave Afghanistan, what will become of American rights and freedoms?

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?

Podcast 9 Defending The Constitution?

Claims about freedoms that cry out for questioning:

Two major political parties that continue to promote the idea that The Troops are sent to distant lands to fight for American rights and freedoms.

School teachers and newspeople who are OK with promoting this urban legend.

Local press:

Hometown pride running high. High enough to stop asking questions?

“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.”

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?

The US Armed Forces – A Giant Civil Rights Organization?

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?

Congressman Derek Kilmer:

Wars are for freedom and democracy.

WA Secretary of State:

“Our right to vote is protected by the extraordinary men and women of the U.S. Armed Forces.”

Page 7 of the Washington State Elections Voters Pamphlet for the November 5th, 2019 General Election:

“Our right to vote is protected by the members of the U.S. Armed Forces.”

One of the nation’s largest, oldest and most respected veterans organizations:

Veterans, not politicians, ‘give us the right to vote,’ observers at Amherst Veterans Day ceremonies told

Any newspeople available to ask:

Congressman Kilmer,

If wars are fought for democracy-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?

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.

Wasteful Homeland Security Spending

No such thing when I was 18. There was no US Dept. of Homeland Security.

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.

March 2, 2021 KTVZ

DEA’s drug threat report: Mexican cartel flooding Northwest with fentanyl

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:

When news/social media posts are created by federal employees, there’s no need to deal with any awkward/real questions from the press.

Major takedown at 1:20

“We arrested two individuals who attempted to sell six counterfeit NFL Super Bowl 54 T-shirts…”

“Comments are turned off”

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.

I’ve never been one to say that military benefits are inadequate. Just stick with whatever was offered when people signed up to stay on for multiple tours in Iraq and Afghanistan and we’re good.

Recommendation for budget savings:

Phase out ongoing undeclared/unwon wars overseas.

The Department of Defense track record for winning undeclared wars goes back to 1949.

Unsustainable Military Spending

Growing Up In The Cold War Era

4 Stories The Puget Sound Press Will Not Question Or Report On

Proud Tradition – The People of WA Need Services In The Middle East

Six US Presidents have now had their hands on the wheel in Iraq

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

Federal Agents Swing Into Action – Zero Questions From Newspeople

Most And Least Meaningful Federal Holidays