Class is a very real social fact in the US. Race is also a very real social fact. Class and race also intersect in complex ways. There has been considerable change and improvement in race relations in the US over the last fifty years, but anyone with open eyes can’t seriously claim that there are no longer any issues around race. Class issues have actually gotten worse. And then there’s the environment.
Until VA Tech quantified the problem, the Snyder administration could deny anything was wrong with the water. I can’t believe this is a problem confined to Flint. Regulatory staffs have been cut across the country not only “to save money”, but also to keep from having problems discovered. Tennessee and North Carolina have had coal ash ponds break into rivers. West Virginia had the chemical spill that affected half the state. Fracking has polluted wells but because of confidentiality laws it’s difficult to track the polluters.It’s time to enforce the Safe Drinking Water Act.
This is a racial crisis and a poverty crisis. That is how this was created. No amount of white conservative posters sitting in their comfortable computer chairs with clean drinking water can prove otherwise. They are just “tired” of everything be racial. Imagine how they would feel if they couldn’t change lanes without threat of death by cop?The community has been complaining – and nothing is getting done. Kind of like how we treated people in need during Katrina – but then that wasn’t racially motivated either, was it?
The whole city of Flint is not poor, there are affluent areas in Flint and they were receiving the same water as the rest of the city. I know this because I live in the area. Also, there were only 28 cases of elevated lead levels in children. Also, the cities of Grand Rapids and Detroit have greater levels of lead in their water and we dont see those two cities making a big deal out of it. People need to check the facts.
Is any of it done deliberately? It’s all a line of culpable deniability, lax regulations and money grabbers not paying attention to we the people.I bet in both cases, someone made a mint.
Do you doubt that the poor get the short end of the stick the and are often completely invisible to politicians who go after the rich dogs and bitches?
Just on the off chance that someone might want to learn something about race in the US, and not just blow off opinions, there’s a new, interesting, and somewhat disturbing book on the topic: “Democracy in Black: How Race Still Enslaves the American Soul”, by Eddie S. Glaude, Jr. He teaches religious studies at Princeton. He pulls no punches, and among other things he pretty hard on those he calls “black liberals”, including Obama; I’m not sure he actually uses the term “sell-out”, but that’s clearly what he means. He doesn’t even let John Lewis off the hook. But his main point is that US society remains deeply racist, and that reform has not and will not solve the problem. I’m not saying he’s right about everything, but he’s worth reading. And some of his points I find very compelling.
I’ve lived in Flint, I live in the area, the Governor of Michigan did ZERO wrong. The only folks who screwed up were the engineers who neglected to add the anti-corrosive to the Flint river water supply. And, those people got into their positions via the DEMOCRATS who have controlled and run Flint into the ground over the past several decades.
Rich people pay their water bills which allows the water department to maintain its equipment and not look for risky ways to cut costs. When you are bankrupt you do foolish things to solve your money problems.
They were told what the result would be, & how to mitigate it for a scant $100/ day for the 1st 3 months (less than $10,000). Instead they have brain damaged a whole town, & did a billion dollars worth of damage to homeowner’s pipes. The repairs will cost an amount equal to all the property in the town. I’m guessing they hope all the residents just quietly abandon their homes & move away. & quietly deal with their brain damaged children.
BS CarlMI, nobody was being accused of not paying their water bills in Flint and bankruptcy was not the issue either. You’re just trying to ram the blame down the throats of the less advantaged people. Everybody in Flint, rich or poor, were supplied the same crappy water by order of the state. The state is responsible and yes, your taxes will have to help pay for it. Next time, don’t vote for sleazy businessmen like Snyder and you won’t feel the need to be a prick to the poor people there.
Melki Premium Member over 8 years ago
I’m pretty sure that water truck would have been there within the hour, not a day later.
Funny_Ha_Ha over 8 years ago
What about Sara Palins kids having to eat yellow snow because of Bengazi?
cocavan11 over 8 years ago
Jen’s point is superb & superbly made, but she needs to improve her punctuation.
Nighthawks Premium Member over 8 years ago
you kids play nice, now.
lopaka over 8 years ago
Tired of one percenters owning our government? Got an idea, let all of us vote for one.
kaffekup over 8 years ago
Because, after all, in this country, nothing is ever based on race. (Eyes rolling)
lonecat over 8 years ago
Class is a very real social fact in the US. Race is also a very real social fact. Class and race also intersect in complex ways. There has been considerable change and improvement in race relations in the US over the last fifty years, but anyone with open eyes can’t seriously claim that there are no longer any issues around race. Class issues have actually gotten worse. And then there’s the environment.
feverjr Premium Member over 8 years ago
Until VA Tech quantified the problem, the Snyder administration could deny anything was wrong with the water. I can’t believe this is a problem confined to Flint. Regulatory staffs have been cut across the country not only “to save money”, but also to keep from having problems discovered. Tennessee and North Carolina have had coal ash ponds break into rivers. West Virginia had the chemical spill that affected half the state. Fracking has polluted wells but because of confidentiality laws it’s difficult to track the polluters.It’s time to enforce the Safe Drinking Water Act.
Mr. Blawt over 8 years ago
This is a racial crisis and a poverty crisis. That is how this was created. No amount of white conservative posters sitting in their comfortable computer chairs with clean drinking water can prove otherwise. They are just “tired” of everything be racial. Imagine how they would feel if they couldn’t change lanes without threat of death by cop?The community has been complaining – and nothing is getting done. Kind of like how we treated people in need during Katrina – but then that wasn’t racially motivated either, was it?
grainpaw over 8 years ago
Where was all this outrage when 300,000 West Virginians were waterless because of a coal processing chemical spill two years ago?
ducman123 over 8 years ago
The whole city of Flint is not poor, there are affluent areas in Flint and they were receiving the same water as the rest of the city. I know this because I live in the area. Also, there were only 28 cases of elevated lead levels in children. Also, the cities of Grand Rapids and Detroit have greater levels of lead in their water and we dont see those two cities making a big deal out of it. People need to check the facts.
Mr. Blawt over 8 years ago
Is any of it done deliberately? It’s all a line of culpable deniability, lax regulations and money grabbers not paying attention to we the people.I bet in both cases, someone made a mint.
pam Miner over 8 years ago
What is? why do you say that?
Do you doubt that the poor get the short end of the stick the and are often completely invisible to politicians who go after the rich dogs and bitches?
pam Miner over 8 years ago
Many things are and have been. Our elite and governments do things that are almost unbelievable.
lonecat over 8 years ago
Just on the off chance that someone might want to learn something about race in the US, and not just blow off opinions, there’s a new, interesting, and somewhat disturbing book on the topic: “Democracy in Black: How Race Still Enslaves the American Soul”, by Eddie S. Glaude, Jr. He teaches religious studies at Princeton. He pulls no punches, and among other things he pretty hard on those he calls “black liberals”, including Obama; I’m not sure he actually uses the term “sell-out”, but that’s clearly what he means. He doesn’t even let John Lewis off the hook. But his main point is that US society remains deeply racist, and that reform has not and will not solve the problem. I’m not saying he’s right about everything, but he’s worth reading. And some of his points I find very compelling.
DarkHorseSki over 8 years ago
I’ve lived in Flint, I live in the area, the Governor of Michigan did ZERO wrong. The only folks who screwed up were the engineers who neglected to add the anti-corrosive to the Flint river water supply. And, those people got into their positions via the DEMOCRATS who have controlled and run Flint into the ground over the past several decades.
Carl Premium Member over 8 years ago
Rich people pay their water bills which allows the water department to maintain its equipment and not look for risky ways to cut costs. When you are bankrupt you do foolish things to solve your money problems.
FirefighterMike over 8 years ago
They were told what the result would be, & how to mitigate it for a scant $100/ day for the 1st 3 months (less than $10,000). Instead they have brain damaged a whole town, & did a billion dollars worth of damage to homeowner’s pipes. The repairs will cost an amount equal to all the property in the town. I’m guessing they hope all the residents just quietly abandon their homes & move away. & quietly deal with their brain damaged children.
Strider54 over 8 years ago
BS CarlMI, nobody was being accused of not paying their water bills in Flint and bankruptcy was not the issue either. You’re just trying to ram the blame down the throats of the less advantaged people. Everybody in Flint, rich or poor, were supplied the same crappy water by order of the state. The state is responsible and yes, your taxes will have to help pay for it. Next time, don’t vote for sleazy businessmen like Snyder and you won’t feel the need to be a prick to the poor people there.