What we get now 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.
Newspeople didn’t show up to ask questions, so we will ask a few here. Our questions appear in bold type.
What role does a $49.8 billion (every 12 months) US Dept. of Homeland Security play in keeping fentanyl from entering the Puget Sound area?
The pills seized were cartel product or were they stolen from local pharmacies, hospitals, etc. Were the pills the same as what would come in a legal prescription or were they manufactured for the illegal drug trade?
We have been hearing of opioid lawsuits in recent years. How do cartels react to opioid lawsuits?
Would the DEA be out of work if a $49.8 billion (every 12 months) US Dept. of Homeland Security was able to keep cartel product from showing up all over the US?
Has local CBP been able to reduce access to cartel product in the Puget Sound area?
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, and newspeople will play along by not asking any questions:
“Especially important in my classroom was the closing phrase, “With liberty and justice for all.” That aspiration and inclusivity is the culture I support in the education of South Whidbey’s children.”
In the US, we probably brag about freedom more than anywhere else on the planet.
When people want to take delivery on their freedom, things can become controversial.
Newspeople play along by not asking questions.
The freedom talk is always sounding good for federal holidays and overseas military operations.
Real life:
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?
Certainly, Americans do not live in a free and honest society.
Love to see school teachers provide lessons on how American culture is good for dividing adults up into groups of first and second-class citizens.
Each November, school teachers across America host Veterans Day assemblies– and promote the idea that The Troops are in distant lands- fighting for American rights and freedoms.
Growing up in the 60s & 70s- veterans were all around- church, school, Boy Scout leaders, family, the neighborhood, etc. It was all just an average thing. These folks weren’t seen as a separate part of American society.
People weren’t stepping over to say “Thanks for your service” to my Dad- who did time in the Navy in the 50s- but looked just like anyone else out in public.
These guys weren’t lining up for free dinner promotions marketed by major restaurant chains.
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?
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?
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.
Stop with the glorification of undeclared/unwon wars in distant lands.
Love to see the press, school teachers, sports announcers and politicians come clean on how any of this was linked to American rights and freedoms or defending the constitution.
Love to see more in the way of newspeople asking questions.
What we get now 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.
Newspeople show a lack of initiative and curiosity in asking questions.
Today, it seems as if the press promotes whatever message is handed down by elected officials and government agencies.
Voices of dissent, and their social media accounts, are suppressed.
This whole structure brings government messages into question.
JFK speaks about the role of the press and voices of dissent in a free society:
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.
Suppressing comments, getting away from asking questions related to public policy and telling us they need more support from subscription and advertising sales.
Got it.
I’d be more interested in paying (again) for a local paper subscription if there was more in the way of newspeople asking questions.
Elimination of reader comments works against the idea of paying for an online subscription.
Seems like the press was better at asking questions back then.
Today:
We are the very best at militarized pageantry for pro sports events.
Newspeople play the role of federal public affairs staff as authorities prepare for the Super Bowl.
Sorry, no time for newspeople to ask:
Did the advantage of US air power allow the undeclared wars in Iraq or Afghanistan to be prevented, won or shut down?
US fighter jet aircraft have been able to strike targets in what wars won by the US?
Alternative Media
We are big fans of Independent/alternative media here at Oak Bay Starfish.
The family friendly, hometown pride-oriented local small town papers and TV news folks are more welcome to do interviews related to public policy. Unfortunately, they seem to have moved away from asking questions.
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:
There needs to be more as Washington enters Pac-12 play.”
Regular newspeople don’t seem to have permission to ask hard questions.
Sports writers are OK with being critical of coaches, teams, players, the rule book, the league, referees, team owners, when the season starts and ends, etc.
Are people who work for newspapers and TV news folks given permission to go out and to do interviews related to public policy? If elected officials and people who run government agencies are not available to be interviewed, that should become the story.
Recommendation for newspeople:
Interview people from various sides of any given issue.
If you are a newspaper struggling for subscription and advertising dollars, figure out how to use the web to post videos of these interviews to bring more attention to your media outlet.
The wind and rain has eased up for a bit. Out to the beach before daylight, and it was a really good morning for clams. First outing for clams since living in Port Hadlock years ago.
Love to see KING 5 ask: How has the greater maritime industry dealt with COVID crewing challenges? How have various industries and public agencies handled this? Airlines? US Navy? FedEx? UPS? local fire dept?
Is there any medical advantage that comes with the new format?
If it is the choice of the business, what are they trying to achieve?
I will wait on the sidelines if dining out features unpredictable new protocols. The whole idea of returning to a place you like is to duplicate the experience you had before.
If the CIA (est 1947) serves as an advantage to the US, why does the Department of Defense have such a poor record of winning undeclared wars going back to 1949, the year DOD was established?
REAL ID
If REAL ID is critical to the safety of America, have travelers out at the airport been less safe since 911?
What keeps the terrorists of the GWOT from creating a disruption at the back end of the screening line?
Has anyone ever seen any member of the press ask questions on this?
REAL ID & Drug Cartels
Love to see newspeople interview the US Dept. of Homeland Security & ask:
Are passports/enhanced/REAL IDs effective in keeping cartel drugs out of the US?
Standard driver’s licenses have not been accepted at the border since 2009.
Welcome Home Troops
Strict Post 911/Global War on Terror Security Protocols No Match For Cartels
If sending US troops to Afghanistan and creating a $49.8 billion (every 12 months) US Dept. of Homeland Security was meant to keep bad people from coming here to do bad things, why are drug cartels able to move product into all 50 states?
If the Oklahoma City bomber rolls onto the ferry- how does the SWAT team help out an hour later?
Maybe security personnel are present at some specific terminals each day. Over the past 20 years, dozens of round trip crossings from various terminals indicate that in many cases- no security screening takes place prior to boarding ferries.
Love to see the press, school teachers, sports announcers and politicians come clean on how any of this was linked to American rights and freedoms or defending the constitution.
Several federal holidays feature a theme related to the idea that the troops are sent to distant lands to defend American rights and freedoms.
Love to see newspeople out asking questions.
