Voting is highly emphasized in American culture. Asking questions related to public policy takes a lower priority.
The idea is to live in a free and honest society.
The mainstream press can help with this, but they mostly aren’t about asking questions.
The press is very good about asking questions and providing thorough reporting whenever a sports story develops:
Dec. 29, 2019 The Seattle Times
Once again, the Seahawks had Marshawn Lynch and the ball at the 1. Once again, their coaches blew it.
Why doesn’t this style of reporting cross over to stories about the US Dept. of Homeland Security, big drug busts, or the Department of Defense track record for winning undeclared wars?
Topics like healthcare, immigration, climate change, impeachment, gun, control, and sports get plenty of coverage.
I tend to be fascinated with topics that are underreported in the news. I wonder why the family friendly, hometown pride-oriented local small town papers, big city papers, and TV news folks seem to have certain topics they stay away from. These are the issues I like to blog about.
The US should maintain strong and ready military forces.
In some cases, the US Armed Forces provide for our physical 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.
All time favorite urban legend:
The Troops are sent to distant lands to fight for American rights and freedoms.
As if the US Armed Forces function as some sort of giant civil rights organization.
The press will avoid questioning this idea. They may even take time to promote it.
Local paper:
“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?
Congressman Derek Kilmer tells us:
Wars are for freedom and democracy.
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?
If the troops are fighting for American rights and freedoms-why were black people still riding at the back of the bus after the big WWII victory?
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.
Stop with the glorification of undeclared/unwon wars in distant lands.
Local water quality
Several Island County beaches are closed for recreational shellfish harvest because of sewage treatment outfall.
This appears to be a routine/ongoing situation.
View the Washington State Department of Health beach list here.
One or more sewage treatment plants sending unsafe product into Penn Cove?
Coupeville
Love to see newspeople provide updated reporting on this:
“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
“This beach is within the closure area for a sewage treatment plant outfall and is unsafe for recreational shellfish harvesting.”
Source: WDFW
Sounds like the sewage treatment plant is sending unsafe product into Penn Cove?
Stewardship is a priority:
Sign below educates the public on local waters.
Saratoga Passage Marine Stewardship Area
Back in 2017, Island County Public Health posted a sign at the Coupeville Wharf about restrictions on recreational shellfish harvesting. I saw no warning signs on 5/21/19 at Monroe Landing.
Image below taken on a March 24, 2019 Penn Cove site visit.
WDFW has posted a permanent sign indicating a dark shaded area in the eastern part of Penn Cove:
Is Port Angeles CBP at all relevant in keeping heroin and meth from entering the Puget Sound area?
US Border Patrol, Port Angeles, WA
An upgrade in staff requiring a new, $11.9 million, 50 agent facility. Secret arrest statistics, denied FOIA requests, heroin and meth in the community, no cross-border USBP arrest in more than 9 years, fraudulent overtime claims, 1,200-horsepower interceptor boats and zero questions from the press.
Plenty of questions here:
Port Angeles – Post 911 CBP Spending Spree
Are newspeople forbidden to ask questions related to Homeland Security funding and performance?
Why are Border Patrol arrest statistics secret at Port Angeles?
March 19, 2014 Sequim Gazette
Agent counters allegations of ‘boredom’
“In March, Supervisory Border Patrol Agent Richard Sinks declined to release statistics on apprehensions or detainments made by the Port Angeles station.”
“Disclosure of the arrest statistics from the Port Angeles station would provide those interested in crossing our borders illegally with information that could aid their strategic targeting of potentially vulnerable areas along the border,” he said in an e-mail. “To maintain operational security these numbers will not be provided.”
Go and ask the FBI for Chicago bank robbery statistics. You’ll get the numbers. They won’t tell you that statistics/public records must be withheld because stats would assist bank robbers if they were shared with the public.
What other law enforcement agencies, anywhere in the US maintain secret arrest statistics?
Washington State Patrol shares DUI arrest statistics on social media here:
“Our #WSP District 8 troopers removed 1,429 impaired drivers from the roads in 2018.”
“Here is a breakdown of what it looks like in each of our 7 counties.”
Elsewhere, when CBP has something to brag about-the public is promptly notified:
Border Patrol K-9 Sniffs out Cocaine Hidden in Dashboard
Border Patrol Stops Drug Smuggler on I-8
Border Patrol Agent’s Public Safety Check Turns into Heroin Bust
Puget Sound area newspeople play along by not asking questions.
Local press tells us that the area is drowning in meth:
October 23, 2019, Q13 News video:
‘The Pacific Northwest is drowning in methamphetamine:’ 17 arrested in major drug trafficking operation
Still looking like newspeople are forbidden to ask questions related to Homeland Security funding and performance:
Island County Homeland Security-funded patrol boat
Back in 2014:
Island county to purchase new patrol boat to help with Puget Sound security:
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.”
Questions for newspeople:
Has there been any post 911 history of maritime “cross-border activity” on Whidbey Island?
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?
Any members of the free press available to show up and ask why the people of West Virginia need services in an unknown overseas location absent any military emergency, national emergency, draft, or declaration of war?
Dec 26, 2019 WOWK News video:
West Virginia Army National Guard sings “Country Roads” to boost holiday spirit
Related:
Lack of News Reporting Hurts Newspaper Subscriptions?
Questions We’d Love To See In The Made For TV Debates
Maybe Get Away From The Bragging About Freedom?
Freedom Comes And Goes – Joint Chiefs of Staff Play No Part
Wars for Freedom?
Military Town – Hometown Pride
US Troops at the border, El Chapo takedown, opioid lawsuits, REAL ID, Homeland Security grant money, CBP social media posts, strict post 911 security protocols and a $40.6 billion US Dept. of Homeland Security fail to keep meth from entering the Puget Sound area:
Drowning in Meth
Newspeople play along by not asking questions.
How Do The Troops Defend The Constitution?
Not asking about the oath of enlistment. Asking about what happens after the oath has been taken.
Don’t miss our companion blog-found here: Old Man Blog
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Photo-
The Seal Rock oyster
Check out the water quality over at Seal Rock here.
Compare to various Island County beaches here.
My critique here is directed at the made for TV newspeole who occaisionaly stage tearful reunions featuring military personnel returning from far away lands.
