American Citizens are being Poisoned in Flint, MI

[Yes I Have Balls]

With that damned Liberal Media everywhere, one would think this would be a bigger story. #AllLivesMatter


http://abcnews.go.com/Health/wireStory/ ... n-36331514

[climber511]

There should be a long list of violations from the EPA showing a results/timeline - and testing done at various places in the city to eliminate other causes of the lead besides the water. Regular testing for all kinds of things are mandated under regular conditions and after violations - much more frequent testing should have been going on. I would like to see the results of that. I don't trust the news media to even come close to getting things right - but hey they are getting a ton of free Fed monies to redo their system - so more power to them. Once the hysteria hits - it takes on a life of it's own as the media goes nuts. Not saying there isn't a problem but we're not getting the whole story.

[vern]

I think that was the message of "Roger and Me".

The folks who fled back in the 80's were the smart ones.

[baffled]

Wasn't the EPA investigating this over a year ago? Seem to remember a story the last few days noting that the investigation got buried over an internal shit flinging contest.

[j-cubed]

Flint is the armpit of Michigan, that's why the News media doesn't care.
Flint's department of water, and the Michigan Department of Environmental Quality fucked up real time.

[Yes I Have Balls]

[Turdacious]

Wasn't the EPA investigating this over a year ago? Seem to remember a story the last few days noting that the investigation got buried over an internal shit flinging contest.

And now it's buried in the context of who should pay for it-- broke ass Michigan or the feebs. Balance pertains.

[Shafpocalypse Now]

Flint is such a shithole now that you actually would have to go there and look around to believe it.

Here are some memories of 25 years ago when I lived in Flint:

-Seeing guns pulled on people on a regular basis (7, maybe 8 times)
-Lots of crack
-Crack apartment building shot up with some kind of submachine gun while I was riding my mountain bike to the bar
-Vegas style casino in the black part of town that was completely untouched by police.
-2 acquaintances hiring a crack whore for $5, a package of gum, and some tic tacs, then fucking her in the car right there in the street
-Spending the night and most of a summer morning on top of a house that was being busted as an illegal card den
-Detroit gangsters, bloods and crips, coming up to Flint and their bodies being found in abandoned houses
-Pack of stray dogs who were eating those bodies
-Homeless guy coming out of the shadows in the Capital Theater during a concert slashing a buddy up with a knife
-Getting the shit beat out of my by members of the Mexican Posse because I was, unknowingly, dating a sister of theirs.
-Getting a bottle broke over my head

I mean, there are more, and for fucks sake, I was just going to college

[j-cubed]

LOL, I went to school in Flint. Nasty hooker on the corner, and pizza delivery guy got car jacked, and had his pizza's stolen, outside our place.

[DikTracy6000]

Flint is such a shithole now that you actually would have to go there and look around to believe it.

Here are some memories of 25 years ago when I lived in Flint:

-Seeing guns pulled on people on a regular basis (7, maybe 8 times)
-Lots of crack
-Crack apartment building shot up with some kind of submachine gun while I was riding my mountain bike to the bar
-Vegas style casino in the black part of town that was completely untouched by police.
-2 acquaintances hiring a crack whore for $5, a package of gum, and some tic tacs, then fucking her in the car right there in the street
-Spending the night and most of a summer morning on top of a house that was being busted as an illegal card den
-Detroit gangsters, bloods and crips, coming up to Flint and their bodies being found in abandoned houses
-Pack of stray dogs who were eating those bodies
-Homeless guy coming out of the shadows in the Capital Theater during a concert slashing a buddy up with a knife
-Getting the shit beat out of my by members of the Mexican Posse because I was, unknowingly, dating a sister of theirs.
-Getting a bottle broke over my head

I mean, there are more, and for fucks sake, I was just going to college

That would make one helluva reality show.

[Kazuya Mishima]

I haven't been keeping up with this, but I can only imagine that the concept of environmental justice is being bandied about pretty heavily. In other words, this kind of stuff only happens to niggers and drunk Indians, and here we go again/blame Republicans/blame whites/we need reparations.

[Shafpocalypse Now]

Legitimately, Snyder is a fucking cunt.

Now, Granholm, the previous governor was worse, she did fucking NOTHING for the state, she just spent her time jockeying for a position on Obama's staff when she was done with her term.

Snyder did make it legal to not wear your helmet, making Michigan the latest organ donor on motorcycle destination in the area...and there are some beautiful roads to ride. However, his union busting and his attempts to loot the auto insurance fund millions of Michigan citizens paid into for long term car were pretty fucking shitty, as was him looting the education funds for road repair or whatever that bullshit was.

[Pinky]

How much of this was not the fault of Flint's shitty local government?

[j-cubed]

Not much.
Basically one poor black city, Detroit, was charging a lot of money to another poor black city, Flint, for water.
Flint's city council voted 7-1 to change to the Karegnondi water source, which will take several years to finish the infrastructure of.
One day later -
Detroit, filled with compassion for the poor people in Flint, gave them a big Fuck You and gave one year notice before they are cut off water. The new supply won't be ready in time.
Flint does a study to see what they can do for an interim solution. They decide to get water from the Flint River, which is a valid source. The Emergency manager agrees with their decision.
The Flint water department does not adequately condition the water. The acidic water removes the protective coating within the pipes. Lead is able to leach into the water.
All hell breaks loose.

[Kazuya Mishima]

Welcome to Black Run America.

[Shafpocalypse Now]

Texas is just as bad though they have more money to throw over the problem

[Blaidd Drwg]

Not much.
Basically one poor black city, Detroit, was charging a lot of money to another poor black city, Flint, for water.
Flint's city council voted 7-1 to change to the Karegnondi water source, which will take several years to finish the infrastructure of.
One day later -
Detroit, filled with compassion for the poor people in Flint, gave them a big Fuck You and gave one year notice before they are cut off water. The new supply won't be ready in time.
Flint does a study to see what they can do for an interim solution. They decide to get water from the Flint River, which is a valid source. The Emergency manager agrees with their decision.
The Flint water department does not adequately condition the water. The acidic water removes the protective coating within the pipes. Lead is able to leach into the water.
All hell breaks loose.

That's a brilliantly concise summary. Thank you sir.

[baffled]

Not much.
Basically one poor black city, Detroit, was charging a lot of money to another poor black city, Flint, for water.
Flint's city council voted 7-1 to change to the Karegnondi water source, which will take several years to finish the infrastructure of.
One day later -
Detroit, filled with compassion for the poor people in Flint, gave them a big Fuck You and gave one year notice before they are cut off water. The new supply won't be ready in time.
Flint does a study to see what they can do for an interim solution. They decide to get water from the Flint River, which is a valid source. The Emergency manager agrees with their decision.
The Flint water department does not adequately condition the water. The acidic water removes the protective coating within the pipes. Lead is able to leach into the water.
All hell breaks loose.

At some point, Detroit offered to hook Flint back up to their water supply, but Flint's city government said their water was safe and declined.

I'm guessing Detroit made the offer with a high price tag?

[Pinky]

Texas is just as bad though they have more money to throw over the problem

People talk about local government being more responsive to the people and even more effective than state and Federal government, but I don't think that's usually true. Most local government sucks. It's just as corrupt and detached from the interests of the governed as any other level of government. The only difference is that it’s run by less competent swindlers.

[climber511]

One of the biggest misconceptions is that any level of governments job is to "make the people happy". It is not - it "supposedly" is to do what is best for the country, state, city town etc as a whole. "The people" are never going to be happy - at least not all of them at the same time. Probably the biggest example would be income taxes - NO ONE likes them but we do need them if you want roads, bridges etc. Of course we could argue all day about how those taxes are divided - used etc. Any decision made by any level of government will upset maybe 40% of the people - 20% won't even notice and the other 40% will think you did great - right up to the next decision - when it will all switch.

Many of the water systems in the country were put in originally in the 30s and 40s - and since the feds have dried up the money for nearly everything so we can rebuild other countries after blowing them up over and over - a total rebuild of nearly 100 year old water systems is nearly impossible. Water system rebuilds are well outside the abilities of local governments. The only good thing I see here is I think now Flint will end up getting a new system from top to bottom on the federal dime.

[Shafpocalypse Now]

Let's all say that out loud "MOST LOCAL GOVERNMENT SUCKS". It's worse than that, most local government has people who were unable to actually hack it at McDonalds. The board of the Houston junior college is an astonishing array of thieves and thugs.

[climber511]

Let's all say that out loud "MOST LOCAL GOVERNMENT SUCKS". It's worse than that, most local government has people who were unable to actually hack it at McDonalds. The board of the Houston junior college is an astonishing array of thieves and thugs.

There are no "qualifications" necessary to run for any public office - including congress and president. In years past being a veteran was certainly viewed as a step up in the process - but no more - now it seems being an attorney is the thing. Many successful people who might be good in public office want nothing to do with it for obvious reasons. Decisions that may be the right thing to do as a public official can hurt a businessman's personal business in a big way if unpopular and almost any decision will be unpopular to some group or another. Public office at the smaller levels (think small villages etc) pay almost nothing and often result in everyone living there thinking they should tell you constantly what they think you should do because they know you personally and have their whole life. The pay is poor - you catch hell every day - you can't eat out without someone in your face telling you you're a dumb ass for something or another - I wonder why I have done it for almost 25 years now. And I have yet to have anyone offer me a bribe of any kind - no lobbyists - nothing. My advice to all is if you don't like the way things are (at any level) then run for office and do what you can to change things.

[johno]

...The only good thing I see here is I think now Flint will end up getting a new system from top to bottom on the federal dime.

I don't see what makes this a federal issue.
And I don't see where federal money comes from any other source but the taxpayers of the various states & cities.

[Yes I Have Balls]

...The only good thing I see here is I think now Flint will end up getting a new system from top to bottom on the federal dime.

I don't see what makes this a federal issue.

The EPA is on hold on Line 1.

[johno]

...The only good thing I see here is I think now Flint will end up getting a new system from top to bottom on the federal dime.

I don't see what makes this a federal issue.

The EPA is on hold on Line 1.

No, in terms of responsibility for replacing the water system. It's a local water system that serves a purely local purpose.