By TERRY GOLDMAN
Los Alamos

In his latest thoughtful review, John Bartlit (link) correctly bemoans the absence of clear details on the costs of the main Flag Day events – the D.C. military parade and the widespread protests related to immigration or the parade itself. Unfortunately, these days, many Americans only want to see – depending on their proclivities vis-a-vis the events – large or small numbers, regardless of detail.

More unfortunately, the multiplication of news venues available has reduced the ability, of even the largest that remain, to examine such questions in detail and certainly not on the short time scale of attention that news reports command, even if reliable information sources were available.

National newspapers, television networks, and radio networks have been shrunk in journalistic capacities by various low quality, online regurgitators of what people want to see and hear from sources of the most slanted and dubious character. Ben Franklin must be “rolling in his grave”.

The lesson: Don’t listen to, watch or trust any type of newscast that does not make clear the sources on which it bases its reports. And thanks to contributors like Bartlit, the Los Alamos Daily Post lives up to and reminds us of what quality reporting is supposed to be.