The introductory garden path paragraphs make no sense.
The author is suggesting that Sample A answering a question on Topic B in 1966 is equivalent to Sample C answering a question on Topic D in 2017?!?! Completely illogical. One might as well say ‘because some people like chicken they all like steak also.’
The standard of writing in today’s media is horrid butnthe standard of editing is worse.
The standard of THINKING in today’s USA is horrid but the standard of publishing is worse.