Voting is highly emphasized in American culture. Asking questions related to public policy takes a lower priority.
Back in 2020, we posted:
4 Stories The Puget Sound Press Will Not Question Or Report On
Time for an update. Here are several more recent examples where the press seems to avoid asking questions. In some cases, these may be topics we mentioned in our 2020 post.
GWOT Rolls On
Any members of the press available to show up and ask why the people of Home State, USA need National Guard services in Africa, absent any military emergency, national emergency, draft, or declaration of war?
South Carolina National Guard to Africa – Zero Questions from Newspeople
Ocean Shores, WA
$6.3 million in federal cash for a used hotel.
Any questions from newspeople?
December 8, 2022 The Daily World
Dept. of Ag invests $6.3M to purchase Ocean Shores hotel
$6.3 million “to fund the acquisition of an existing hotel. Marathon Enterprises Inc. is located in Ocean Shores, Grays Harbor County, Washington. The project is expected to result in saving eight jobs and creating one full time job.”
Love to see newspeople ask: Is there any shortage of lodging facilities in this community?
Related:
Federal Cash For The Coast – 98569
Penn Cove Sewage Treatment Plant Outfall
Several Whidbey beaches remain closed all year long for recreational shellfish harvest because of sewage treatment outfall.
Sewage treatment outfall. Not stormwater. Not climate change.
Reporting on this topic appears to be completely off limits to the press.
Coupeville
“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
More here:
Penn Cove Sewage Treatment Plant Outfall – Zero Questions From Newspeople
A Giant US Dept. of Homeland Security
Americans pay billions of dollars every 12 months for a giant US Dept. of Homeland Security.
The US Dept. of Homeland Security “stops an average of 7 known or suspected terrorists a day – 50 a week- trying to come to our country.”
Question for TV newspeople:
With such an impressive handle on US Dept. of Homeland Security performance- why do cartels continue to move product into all 50 states?
All 50 states?
“There are currently 33 HIDTAs, and HIDTA-designated counties are located in 50 states, as well as in Puerto Rico, the U.S. Virgin Islands, and the District of Columbia.”
Source: DEA High Intensity Drug Trafficking Areas (HIDTA) program
Would the DEA be out of work if a giant US Dept. of Homeland Security was able to keep cartel product from showing up in all 50 states?
Look for newspeople to ask zero questions in this area.
Whidbey/Oak Harbor update:
June 16, 2023 Whidbey News-Times
High-speed chase through Oak Harbor ends with a crash
“…man caught smoking fentanyl in the Oak Harbor Walmart parking lot…”
“At 7:55 p.m. Tuesday, a caller at the Walmart reported to police that two people in a white Honda appeared to be using drugs. An Oak Harbor officer noted in his report that police are aware that the parking lot is a common place for people to abuse illegal substances.”
Back in 2014:
April 18, 2014 Whidbey News-Times
New patrol boat to help with Puget Sound security
“Island County secured a $225,000 grant to purchase a new all-weather patrol vessel. Funding for the boat was issued through the Homeland Security Grant Program under Operation Stonegarden.”
Federal grant money goes to “…gain a better grasp on cross border activity and to prevent illegal crossings.”
“Funding for the boat was issued through the Homeland Security Grant Program under Operation Stonegarden.”
Took a look on the web to see if there is a post 911 history of maritime “cross-border activity” on Whidbey & could not find anything. If anyone has info, please post in comments.
Questions for newspeople:
Has the Island County Homeland Security-funded patrol boat been able to intercept any inbound fentanyl?
Has the Island County Homeland Security-funded patrol boat been involved in any arrest or seizure related in any way to the US/Canada border?
Newspeople remain silent.
More here:
Possibly of interest:
Below, are some random thoughts and questions newspeople will not ask. Our questions appear in bold type.
Hostile Forces in Distant Lands
The Press
Much of what we get today is sort of a press release style of news reporting where a statement is prepared by whatever agency was involved in the latest policy update, 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.
Local papers have stripped away all comments from past articles, and removed the opportunity to post comments to new articles.
Various newspapers in the Puget Sound area have gone with this trend.
JFK speaks about the role of the press in a free society:
Photo at top of page-
Several months back, out at North Jetty