The video below shows how to prune the fern in early February.
Please go to 2:40
What mine was looking like around mid-April:
Americans do not live in a free and honest society.
A weak-minded culture avoids asking questions.
American Soldiers Did Not Die Defending Our Freedom
by Jacob G. Hornberger
May 27, 2014
Decades of undeclared wars to defend American rights and freedoms?
Why do many Americans avoid questioning this idea?
Jacob G. Hornberger:
“…it is a testament to the power of state to indoctrinate the citizenry.”
National Guard
How did Nebraska freedoms get over to East Africa?
In the news:
Apr 17, 2023 Lincoln Journal Star
National Guard unit bound for East Africa gets send-off at Memorial Stadium
“There hasn’t been a more dangerous time in our world in decades,” Ricketts said, alluding to US rivalries with China, Russia, North Korea and Iran. “Our soldiers will be out there protecting our freedoms.”
Thanks for sending the National Guard to distant lands for our freedoms.
Recruiting Crisis
March 28, 2023 WCAX-TV
Vt. National Guard confronts recruitment crisis
Vt. National Guard Commander Maj. Gen. Greg Knight:
“From my perspective, it’s a matter of marketing,” Knight said. “I think there’s a perception out there that the military is the last best option. …That’s a false narrative. …There’s still folks that remain uninformed about what it is the Guard is and what the Guard does.”
General Knight,
Decades after the lessons of Vietnam, it feels like the people who run the Pentagon specialize in undeclared/unwon wars.
Young people and their parents and grandparents may take a dim view on all this.
The people of Minnesota need more applicants to maintain a place to live and a regular job in their hometown area when they are not doing time in foreign lands helping DOD with undeclared/unwon wars and missions completely unrelated to their home state.
A few decades back, people might think of the National Guard as one weekend a month and two weeks in the summer plus a way to support your home state by being ready to get called out for floods, fires, natural disasters, civil unrest, etc. Maybe a way to help the next state over if they needed it.
In recent years, the National Guard has been sent to Syria, Africa, Iraq, Afghanistan, and Kosovo.
General Knight,
Are any members of the press available to show up and ask why the people of Home State, USA needed services in distant lands, absent any military emergency, national emergency, draft, or declaration of war?
Recruiting crisis for Uncle Sam? Elected officials and top Pentagon Generals earned it.
General Knight tells us that people are uninformed about what the National Guard is and what it does.
What the National Guard does:
Africa
April 15, 2023 KOCO
More than 1,000 National Guard members attend deployment ceremony
Task Force Tomahawk heads to Fort Bliss in Texas for one more round of training before going to Africa for “security operations.”
Europe
April 5, 2023 Arkansas Democrat-Gazette
Arkansas Guardsmen leave on yearlong mission to train Ukrainian forces
NATO peace-keeping mission in Kosovo:
April 27, 2023 Fort Worth FOX 4
Send off held in Fort Worth for Texas Army National Guard members heading to Europe
Not specific to Armed Forces recruiting, but you get the idea:
Related:
Misinformation and Militarized Freedom Nonsense
Decades after the lessons of Vietnam
How did Rhode Island freedoms get over to the Middle East?
Random Thoughts – Recruiting Crisis
Schmoozy Interview With The General – Recruiting Crisis
Most And Least Meaningful Federal Holidays
Memorial Day- long weekend/BBQ guilt trips
The system does not welcome questions, debate or discussion.
Americans do not live in a free and honest society. In a free and honest society, messages related to public policy stand up to questioning and discussion. Newspeople would be asking questions all of the time.
The system is good with those who read the script:
Schmoozy Interview With The General – Recruiting Crisis
Related:
Decades after the lessons of Vietnam, it feels like the people who run the Pentagon specialize in undeclared/unwon wars.
Understandable why young people and their parents and grandparents would take a dim view on all this.
Will an older generation encourage a younger generation to do time in the US Armed Forces in the years ahead?
Currently serving four-star officers and high level DOD civilians have been associated with what wars won by the US?
Related:
Random Thoughts – Recruiting Crisis
Schmoozy Interview With The General – Recruiting Crisis
Below, are some random thoughts and questions newspeople will not ask. Our questions appear in bold type.
Possibly of interest:
How Do The Troops Defend The Constitution?
Not asking about the oath of enlistment. Asking about what happens after the oath has been taken.
Love to see newspeople interview elected officials and let us know how sending US Troops to Syria, Lebanon, Somalia, Vietnam, Afghanistan, Iraq, Bosnia, etc., is somehow defending the constitution.
Photo-
A symbol of newspeople not asking questions, and a federal government that is OK with undeclared/unwon wars and telling lies about freedom, then blaming young people and their families when they lose interest in showing up.
Or, a symbol of federal government credibility and followers of both major parties, elected officials, newspeople and school teachers not asking questions.
Official campaign video:
American freedoms come and go. For sure, we have less freedom today than we did when I graduated from public high school in the late 70s.
Both major parties have taken turns in power over the past 40 years or so. For sure, there is a chunk of public policy that has become worse, not better.
Less freedom today.
Any examples, Mr. Blogger?
Both major political parties are now OK with treating 18-20 year old adults as second-class citizens.
Alcohol, marijuana, tobacco and firearms restrictions are in place for 18-20 year old adults. Is there any state where recreational marijuana laws remove prohibition for adults at age 18?
Doesn’t seem to fit with a society that can’t stop bragging about freedom, thanking the troops for freedoms, fighting wars for freedoms, staging military jet flyovers at sporting events for freedom, etc.
Certainly, Americans do not live in a free and honest society.
Hey school teachers, are the Joint Chiefs of Staff sending The Troops to fix any of this?
Love to see the press find out from elected officials how sending US Troops to Syria, Lebanon, Somalia, Vietnam, Afghanistan, Iraq, Bosnia, etc., is somehow defending the constitution or American freedoms.
Look for newspeople and school teachers to ask zero questions in these areas.
Changes based on consumer demand or government demand?
Governments at various levels are now in the habit of setting deadlines for new restrictions, bans and mandates.
Smoking bans, plastic bag bans, gun bans, federal toilet regulations, bottled water bans, and mandates on what sort of new vehicle you may purchase.
All this, while we are told that US military operations in distant lands are somehow linked to American rights and freedoms.
Moving Towards A One Size Fits All Society – Climate And Environment
Goodbye Free Enterprise System
Biden makes mention of voting rights?
Both major parties are OK with a glorification of military service and this 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?
Men Died For the Right to Vote?
Right To Vote Linked To Military Operations/US Troops in Distant Lands?
Thanks for the Freedom
Thanks for sending The Troops to distant lands to keep bad people from coming here to do bad things. If not for decades of undeclared/unwon wars, (The Department of Defense track record goes back to 1949) hostile forces may have come to North America to do away with the free enterprise system and tell us what kind of shower head we must install in our home, what type of gas can we must buy for our generator, what type of gas we must place in the can, or that our push mower does not meet federal EPA regulations.
If not for decades of undeclared/unwon wars, drug trafficking cartels might be able to move product into all 50 states.
Has General Milley’s Operation Macho Swagger reduced access to cartel product anywhere in the US?
Has there been enough time for newspeople to ask questions?
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.
Both major parties and the press appear to be OK with undeclared/unwon wars.
Cartel drug busts that happen in Hometown, USA involve drugs that were not stopped at the border.
If The Troops defend our freedoms, should we ask the Joint Chiefs of Staff to bring back the Free Enterprise System?
0:20
Probably designed by some bureaucrat that never mowed a yard:
Weak News Reporting
The US should maintain strong and ready military forces.
In some cases, the US Armed Forces provide for our 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.
We’ve been told for decades that DOD sends the troops to distant lands to defend 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.”
Related:
Random Thoughts – Recruiting Crisis
Maybe Get Away From The Bragging About Freedom?
Leaving Afghanistan – Lies About American Rights And Freedoms
Schmoozy Interview With The General – Recruiting Crisis
Growing Up In The Cold War Era
Below, are some random thoughts and questions newspeople will not ask. Our questions appear in bold type.
Possibly of interest:
How Do The Troops Defend The Constitution?
Not asking about the oath of enlistment. Asking about what happens after the oath has been taken.
Love to see newspeople interview elected officials and let us know how sending US Troops to Syria, Lebanon, Somalia, Vietnam, Afghanistan, Iraq, Bosnia, etc., is somehow defending the constitution.
April 25, 2023 USA TODAY
Democrat RFK Jr. details how he differs ‘profoundly’ with Biden ahead of 2024 election
“I look forward to engaging him in debates and town hall meetings, in a primary election that is honest, civil, and transparent,” Kennedy said in a statement. “I invite him into a new era of respectful dialog in these times of division.”
April 25, 2023 OAN
Democrats Frustrated That The 2024 DNC Will Not Be Holding Debates
Prediction: A candidate for President who questions the system/undeclared wars will not get a DNC nomination for President.
Photo-
Post-911/high level Dept. of Defense security protocols update:
Many interesting comments are posted below the video above.
Welcome Home Troops
Related:
Random Thoughts – Recruiting Crisis
Possibly of interest:
World’s most powerful military force is unable to keep crank call from going out live during POTUS big public relations event:
Podcast 10 NORAD Santa Tracker Allows Insult To President Biden Live On Air
Photo-
A symbol of US federal government credibility.
Not enough undeclared/unwon wars to get it right.
Several beers in:
Washington Coast – The North Beach
Along for the afternoon: KOZT
About this time of year, several years back:
Winter Is Over On Whidbey Island
Washington Coast – The North Beach
Along for the afternoon: KOZT
About this time of year, several years back:
Winter Is Over On Whidbey Island
A man on the moon in 1969 was a proud American moment.
Back in 1969, your lawn mower was probably manufactured in some location like Indiana, Ohio, or Michigan. It ran on plain old gas. You kept the gas in a plain old gas can. You did so safely. The mower lasted a long time. It was made to be serviced and maintained.
At 9:50 in the video below, Taryl, explains the amount of labor required to get a modern mower running again.
Welcome Home Troops
Many interesting comments posted with the video above.
We went shopping today in the Aberdeen/Hoquiam area. Outside one of the stores on our route, I was surprised to see the front page of the local paper in a newspaper vending machine outside the business:
Click image once or twice to show detail.
Front page news has been replaced by a weekly grocery store ad. The business location where we were is not in the ad above.
From the newspaper web site today:
Yes, that is the front page for today. Looks like that format is in place once each week. Something like junk mail, instead of news.
But, it’s your fault Mr. Blogger. You must support newspapers if you want them to keep you informed?
Newspeople have stopped asking questions.
$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?
Months later, has anyone seen any informative news articles on this?
Love to see newspeople show some initiative and curiosity in asking questions.
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.
People who take no public funds, advertising dollars, or private donations are free to ask questions at any time. Why not the press?
I’d be more interested in paying (again) for a local paper subscription if there was more in the way of newspeople asking questions.
Various Puget Sound area newspapers have stripped away all comments from past articles, and removed the opportunity to post comments to new articles.
Elimination of reader comments works against the idea of paying for an online subscription.
Manage it, don’t ban it. Online comment sections
Today’s American culture is truly weak in terms of newspeople asking questions:
Politicians, Puget Sound Press, and Earth Day
Less enthusiastic about voting & following the news for these reasons.
Related:
4 Stories The Puget Sound Press Will Not Question Or Report On
Moving Towards A One Size Fits All Society – Climate And Environment
Old Man Blog category:
Thoughts on changes in American culture relating to those born roughly in the late 50s & early 60s.
Original Old Man Blog here: https://oldmanblogdotcom.wordpress.com
New updates here: https://oakbaystarfish.com/category/old-man-blog/
Washington Coast – The North Beach
They have been back out to one of the beaches they know where they can harvest oysters.
From Ocean Shores.
Looking east, across Grays Harbor.
Washington Coast – The North Beach
Washington Coast – The North Beach
Photo above:
Stopped at Hood Canal one morning. On our way to the Pacific Coast.
In the news:
March 29, 2023 The Daily World
Crosswalk installation begins in Ocean Shores
City says construction on long-awaited project will be fully complete by July
Well done on getting this project underway.
Ocean Shores has some nice, modern crosswalks. There is a nice one at Ocean Lake Way/Point Brown Ave. Unfortunately, Ocean Shores is not a pedestrian-friendly town. Step away from the crosswalk at Ocean Lake Way/Point Brown Ave. and you very quickly arrive in a walker’s no man’s land. Your pedestrian friendly moment is now over. Walk towards the Elk’s Club from that point and see what I mean.
Ocean Shores Is Not a Pedestrian Friendly Town
Meet me at Ocean Shores McDonald’s. We will stay on that side of the street, facing traffic and walk north on Point Brown Ave NE, all the way up to the Beacon Pest Control facility, just across from the entrance to Ocean Shores. Walking this route will suck. Couples & families are staying in a hotel room near the beach. They want to go on foot and see the town, maybe have a beer and avoid drinking and driving, maybe visit the shops, head over to Galway Bay, Lucky Dragon, walk over to Playtime Family Fun, etc. Traveling on foot will suck. Much room for improvement here and the new project described above will help with that.
When people finish using the new crosswalk, will they quickly arrive again in the pedestrian no man’s land?
Possibly of interest:
$6.3 million in federal cash for a used hotel.
Any questions from newspeople?
Federal Cash For The Coast – 98569
Photo-
Slow speed mayhem – Oak Harbor
They know a beach where they can harvest oysters.
Currently serving four-star officers and high level DOD civilians have been associated with what wars won by the US?
-Oak Bay Starfish
Photo above:
Platoon 3049, MCRD San Diego
Jun-Sep 1979
US Armed Forces Recruiting Crisis
Decades after the lessons of Vietnam, it feels like the people who run the Pentagon specialize in undeclared/unwon wars.
Understandable why young people and their parents and grandparents would take a dim view on all this.
Will an older generation encourage a younger generation to do time in the US Armed Forces in the years ahead?
How does Uncle Sam plan to attract young people to sign up in the years ahead?
If DOD was 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.
Any college or pro football coach would have been fired a dozen times over for what DOD has done with the US Armed Forces during the fake GWOT era.
Not here 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.
Pick a decade anytime after the war in Vietnam. No matter what political party or personality is in the White House, Uncle Sam struggles to get veterans health care to work properly. Moms, Dads, Grandparents, and young people have access to this info.
Recruiting crisis for Uncle Sam? Elected officials and top Pentagon Generals earned it.
Every few years, no matter what political party or personality is in power, there are moves to modify what people thought they were earning in exchange for 20 years of unrestricted worldwide service.
The plan is to save cash by reducing the traditional DOD military benefits that were on the table when people began doing multiple tours in Iraq and Afghanistan.
This is the same country where both major parties invite veterans to be momentarily honored at State of the Union events when they control the White House.
Football games are also used to honor veterans:
0:12 the man is barely conscious when greeted by team owner Jerry Jones:
Where are the veterans who are OK with less wars?
Everyone seems to love it. When the made for TV event is over, veteran’s benefits may be up for grabs again.
Recommendation:
Insert language into recruiting literature and enlistment documents stating that rules concerning benefits may change at any time & that no definite benefit package will be provided in exchange for 20 years of unrestricted worldwide service. No grandfather clause will apply. Have unit leaders refer to this disclaimer when promoting retention drives, giving re-enlistment speeches, etc.
Some will say that this has already been done, and that you will see it if you read the fine print. I say take it out of fine print and make it read like the warnings on a pack of cigarettes.
Recommendation for budget savings:
Phase out undeclared/unwon wars overseas.
The Department of Defense track record for winning undeclared wars goes back to 1949.
Sound of Freedom
Did the advantage of US air power allow the undeclared wars in Iraq or Afghanistan to be prevented, won or shut down?
US jet aircraft have been able to strike targets in what wars won by the US?
General Thomas,
Has dressing women to look like men had any positive or negative impact on recruiting?
Schmoozy Interview With The General – Recruiting Crisis
General Thomas,
We were told we needed to send troops to Vietnam.
Syria, Lebanon, Somalia, Iraq, Afghanistan, etc.
Some may have become skeptical along the way.
Political parties and personalities are not as interesting as what stays the same no matter who is elected to office.
The Dept. of Defense is the very best at militarized pageantry for pro sports events.
They are able to get some members of the press to play the role of federal public affairs staff as authorities prepare for the Super Bowl.
TV newspeople perform like paid actors reading a script.
Weak News Reporting
The US should maintain strong and ready military forces.
In some cases, the US Armed Forces provide for our 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.
We’ve been told for decades that DOD sends the troops to distant lands to defend 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.”
Thanks
Thanks for sending The Troops to distant lands to keep bad people from coming here to do bad things. If not for decades of undeclared/unwon wars, (The Department of Defense track record goes back to 1949) hostile forces may have come to North America to do away with the free enterprise system and tell us what kind of shower head we must install in our home, what type of gas can we must buy for our generator, or that our push mower does not meet federal EPA regulations.
If not for decades of undeclared/unwon wars, drug trafficking cartels might be able to move product into all 50 states.
Feb. 24, 2023 TEMPE, Ariz. (3TV/CBS 5/Gray News)
4.5 million fentanyl pills, 3,000 pounds of meth seized during joint drug bust
“The Tempe Police Department, Drug Enforcement Administration and Arizona Attorney General’s Office shared details on Thursday about a major bust that took three years to pull off.”
Three years to pull off this bust?
“An estimated 4.5 million fentanyl pills were seized in addition to 3,000 pounds of methamphetamine and large amounts of heroin, cocaine and fentanyl powder, according to authorities.”
Wonder what was happening at border crossing inspections during the 3 years these folks were under investigation. Do the good guys who made the Tempe bust notify the good guys at the border about the weak links in their process?
Love to see newspeople ask:
Were federal authorities at the border notified of this ongoing investigation?
Did the drug traffickers get fast track screening at the border so as not to disrupt this ongoing investigation?
If the drug traffickers were given a pass at the border- would that have tipped them off as to the investigation- or would that have been seen as standard protocol?
Imagine that LE authorities observe a shoplifter or bank robber in action. Instead of going in to make an arrest they back off and conduct an investigation that goes on for 3 years. What if they applied the same tactic Re: crimes involving arson, terrorism, child abuse, DUI, etc.
Has General Milley’s Operation Macho Swagger reduced access to cartel product anywhere in the US?
Has there been enough time for newspeople to ask questions?
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.
Both major parties and the press appear to be OK with undeclared/unwon wars.
Cartel drug busts that happen in Hometown, USA involve drugs that were not stopped at the border.
If The Troops defend our freedoms, should we ask the Joint Chiefs of Staff to bring back the Free Enterprise System?
Goodbye Free Enterprise System
National Guard
The people of Minnesota need more applicants to maintain a place to live and a regular job in their hometown area when they are not doing time in foreign lands helping DOD with undeclared/unwon wars and missions completely unrelated to their home state.
A few decades back, people might think of the National Guard as one weekend a month and two weeks in the summer plus a way to support your home state by being ready to get called out for floods, fires, natural disasters, civil unrest, etc. Maybe a way to help the next state over if they needed it.
In recent years, the National Guard has been sent to Syria, Africa, Iraq, Afghanistan, and Kosovo.
Any members of the press available to show up and ask why the people of Home State, USA needed services in distant lands, absent any military emergency, national emergency, draft, or declaration of war?
Recruiting crisis for Uncle Sam? Elected officials and top Pentagon Generals earned it.
Before making any plans to start up a draft, let’s ask if newspeople can do something totally different. Have newspeople interview elected officials and let us know how sending US Troops to Syria, Lebanon, Somalia, Vietnam, Afghanistan, Iraq, Bosnia, etc., is somehow defending the constitution.
Have newspeople find out:
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.
Potential applicants on the way to comply with the next draft:
Jan 13, 2023 Military.com
Brawls, Disorder Mar National Guard Boot Camp for Teens
“A massive brawl broke out on a parade ground at Fort Gordon in Augusta one afternoon last fall, when about 70 teenage recruits of the Georgia National Guard’s Youth Challenge Academy slugged it out. Some used homemade weapons, including metal shanks, crudely sharpened toothbrushes and tube socks filled with metal padlocks.”
More here:
Hey Moms and Dads – Ask A Recruiter
Last time there was a draft that involved an undeclared war, things did not go well.
Related:
Will No Longer Accept New TRICARE Families? – Recruiting Crisis
Maybe Get Away From The Bragging About Freedom?
Excuses for US Military Recruiting Crisis
Any college or pro football coach would have been fired a dozen times over
America Deserves A Military Recruiting Crisis
Growing Up In The Cold War Era
Decades after the lessons of Vietnam, it feels like the people who run the Pentagon specialize in undeclared/unwon wars.
What would be your role be in all this?
Below, are some random thoughts and questions newspeople will not ask. Our questions appear in bold type.
Possibly of interest:
How Do The Troops Defend The Constitution?
Not asking about the oath of enlistment. Asking about what happens after the oath has been taken.
Love to see newspeople interview elected officials and let us know how sending US Troops to Syria, Lebanon, Somalia, Vietnam, Afghanistan, Iraq, Bosnia, etc., is somehow defending the constitution.
Currently serving four-star officers and high level DOD civilians have been associated with what wars won by the US?
-Oak Bay Starfish
Pick a decade anytime after the war in Vietnam. No matter what political party or personality is in the White House, Uncle Sam struggles to get veterans health care to work properly. Moms, Dads, Grandparents, and young people have access to this info.
In the news:
April 10, 2023 Kitsap Sun
TRICARE administrator floats pay cuts to health care providers
“In a letter to the company that Campbell provided to the Kitsap Sun, she pointed to rising costs at her practice in Silverdale, noted that she doesn’t take a salary personally and has had to dip into savings to make ends meet.”
“Any reduction from the current rate will simply make it impossible to meet our expenses,” she wrote.
“If this goes through for me, I will no longer accept new TRICARE families, and I really don’t like doing that, because that’s not fair,” she said. “I want the TRICARE families to know why, I want them to understand, this is not a decision that I take lightly or that anyone else takes lightly, but we do have to still pay staff, I have retirement for them and vacation pay, those things are important to keep staff members and to support their families.”
Excuses for US Military Recruiting Crisis
Recruiters, generals, elected officials, political think tanks and TV newspeople are A-OK with a list of excuses for difficulties in recruiting. Low unemployment, overweight young people, COVID, young people on meds, illegal drug use, etc.
They will avoid news reporting and discussion on reasons for the crisis that reflect poorly on elected officials, DOD and news reporting.
The military recruiting crisis was earned by the politicians, generals, and high ranking civilians who have been running the Pentagon over the past 30 years or so. The crisis is also upon us due to newspeople not asking questions going back to the time the Cold War ended.
Decades after the lessons of Vietnam, it feels like the people who run the Pentagon specialize in undeclared/unwon wars.
Understandable why young people and their parents and grandparents would take a dim view on all this. Any news reporting and discussion?
Weak News Reporting
The US should maintain strong and ready military forces.
In some cases, the US Armed Forces provide for our 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.
We’ve been told for decades that DOD sends the troops to distant lands to defend American rights and freedoms.
Claims about freedoms that cry out for questioning:
Two major political parties promote the idea that The Troops are sent to distant lands to fight for American rights and freedoms.
School teachers and newspeople 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?
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.”
National Guard
The people of Minnesota need more applicants to maintain a place to live and a regular job in their hometown area when they are not doing time in foreign lands helping DOD with undeclared/unwon wars and missions completely unrelated to their home state.
A few decades back, people might think of the National Guard as one weekend a month and two weeks in the summer plus a way to support your home state by being ready to get called out for floods, fires, natural disasters, civil unrest, etc. Maybe a way to help the next state over if they needed it.
In recent years, the National Guard has been sent to Syria, Africa, Iraq, Afghanistan, and Kosovo.
Any members of the press available to show up and ask why the people of Home State, USA needed services in distant lands, absent any military emergency, national emergency, draft, or declaration of war?
Recruiting crisis for Uncle Sam? Elected officials and top Pentagon Generals earned it.
Both major parties and the press appear to be OK with undeclared/unwon wars.
If DOD was 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.
Love to see TV newspeople ask:
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.
Related:
Schmoozy Interview With The General – Recruiting Crisis
Maybe Get Away From The Bragging About Freedom?
Excuses for US Military Recruiting Crisis
Any college or pro football coach would have been fired a dozen times over
America Deserves A Military Recruiting Crisis
How does Uncle Sam plan to attract young people to sign up in the years ahead?
Hey Moms and Dads – Ask A Recruiter
Decades after the lessons of Vietnam, it feels like the people who run the Pentagon specialize in undeclared/unwon wars.
What would be your role be in all this?
Below, are some random thoughts and questions newspeople will not ask. Our questions appear in bold type.
Possibly of interest:
How Do The Troops Defend The Constitution?
Not asking about the oath of enlistment. Asking about what happens after the oath has been taken.
Love to see newspeople interview elected officials and let us know how sending US Troops to Syria, Lebanon, Somalia, Vietnam, Afghanistan, Iraq, Bosnia, etc., is somehow defending the constitution.
Over the past 20 years or so, I have taken some photos in several WA counties and a few in Oregon. I put together a new category with a coastal favorites theme.
The collection is here.
Image above:
Looking towards the Deception Pass Bridge from the Fidalgo Island side of the state park.
Recently, I have been listening to KOZT. On Saturday morning, they played a couple songs that I enjoyed:
Carole King & James Taylor – UP ON THE ROOF (Live)
Jackson Browne performs “Redemption Song” at the Concert for the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame in 1995
Photo:
Some Whidbey garden fun we had a few years back.
Love the old wheelbarrow.
The tire brand is Schenuit. Some history from Baltimore Heritage:
“Schenuit manufactured truck and automobile tires, and later manufactured aircraft tires for the military during World War II. The company became dependent on government contracts and nearly went bankrupt after the war. By the 1960s, the company began expanding into the home and garden industry by buying out smaller manufacturers that made wheelbarrows, industrial wood products, lawn equipment, exercise equipment, and lawn and patio furniture. By the 1970s, Schenuit had moved out of the tire business.”
Driftwood Fetish
Finished compost for tilling into the garden.
Sifting finished compost.
Starting a new compost pile. Sifted compost ready for use.
Sort of like a driftwood flower arrangement.
