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Most repulsive is the idea that, to save $100 a day on a water additive that would have controlled corrosion, state officials threw the children of Flint, mostly minorities, into the toxic waters of the Flint River.

FLINT FALLOUT: "Poisoning of An American City" - Time Magazine

January 20, 2016       1 Comments
By: Dave Rogers

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Flint, Michigan, is now the world epicenter of the age-old struggle between the haves and the have-nots, rich vs. poor, so-called "conservatives vs. liberals."

Most repulsive is the idea that, to save $100 a day on a water additive that would have controlled corrosion, state officials threw the children of Flint, mostly minorities, into the toxic waters of the Flint River.

And even worse, forced them to drink it!

Have we really become so partisan that "liberal" compassion, caring, concern for human welfare should be condemned, as one critic charged this columnist yesterday?"

If so, we are doomed as barbarians, unfit to continue as a society that professes to follow the teachings of Christ.

Actually, this corner saw Gov. Rick Snyder's courageous admission of guilt in the disaster as more of a bright spot, rather than a low point, in the aftermath of the disaster. "It's my fault and I'll fix it," the governor bravely proclaimed.

I can see several of the current Presidential candidates ducking the blame and pointing fingers elsewhere if faced with a similar situation.

Snyder didn't shrink from his responsibility, even though he and his like-minded minions have created the anti-populist atmosphere that treasures the gilded robes of Wall Street barons above the rough cloth of common folk.

This attitude ranges from our education system, the funding of which is being undermined by Wall Street, to the pay of workers and their Constitutional (First Amendment) rights to bargain in unions and, of course, the monumental failure to fix the roads and other infrastructure.

Apparently, the folks in charge in Lansing would prefer to have $575 million in a state surplus in the bank than provide safe roads and bridges...habitable schools in places like Detroit...and safe drinking water in Flint.

Don't under-estimate the impact of this crisis; the Flint mayor has met with the President in the White House, Flint is on the lips of Presidential candidates and world leaders, the national media including the iconic Time Magazine is obsessed with its implications -- for good reason. It is symbolic of the needs of humanity versus the greed of Wall Street.

Soon books on the history of the Flint water crisis will begin reaching the literary marketplace, documentaries will appear on television and college classes will scrutinize the events just 40 miles from our door, in the heart of the Saginaw Valley.

It's no surprise that our state representative Charles Brunner, a decent, honorable public servant who rose from Bay City mayor to higher office through the fires of the auto industry recovery in 2008, has focused on the ideological roots of the crisis:

"For the past five years during my service in the House, I've supported numerous plans offered by House Democrats to provide equal opportunities for everyone to succeed. Unfortunately, this Republican-controlled Legislature and Gov. Snyder have focused on giving tax breaks to their corporate friends and cutting corners with the health and safety of Michigan residents," Brunner said, adding:

"Gov. Snyder supported the anti-democratic Emergency Financial Manager legislation to replace elected local governments with un-elected and unaccountable functionaries if the elected officials were deemed incompetent. I think the governor should apply his own standard to himself and resign. If it was good for the goose, it's good for the Michigander."

Of course, Rep. Brunner and colleagues have a valid point; but it may be more practical now for Snyder to remain in office under the gun, charged by the public and the national media with fulfilling his promise to "fix it."

For a lousy $100 a day Michigan has squandered years of promoting "Pure Michigan" as the nirvana of pleasure-seeking tourists. Like the Love Canal, we may never escape the branding as a pollution soaked, right wing bastion of ignorance and short-sighted anti-humanity ideas.

E-mails the governor has released reveal that his aides feared the Flint water crisis was being used as "a political football" by officials who merely were trying to call attention to the potentially severe health consequences of the water situation.

So now we're on the cover of Time Magazine, condemned before the world as Luddites and hypocrites, stripped of our "Pure Michigan" mantle for $100 a day.

No doubt Flint will be a political football, an ideological one, bouncing for years after we all have gone to our eternal rewards.

If it's a liberal pattern of thought regarding concern for humanity, I am guilty as charged.

If the Flint crisis puts the spotlight of opinion on the differences between so-called conservatives and liberals, so be it.

In slightly over nine months this nation will vote in a historic Presidential election that may well turn on who supports which area of political thought.

Historians, half a century from now may well point to the events of the water crisis in Flint, Michigan, as a turning point in American history.

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"The BUZZ" - Read Feedback From Readers!

tennis1960 Says:       On January 22, 2016 at 03:43 PM
Don't forget the regional EPA director resigned on Thursday as well so we don't even have a federal representative from Washington to send "Day to day" updates. Because of this national story I called the Des Plaines Water Department just yesterday and made an appointment to have them came to my home on Monday the 25th to test my water & age of my piping as well. Because of this highly publicised disaster It made me think of what I am putting into my body temple. I am finding out some pretty interesting data about my water treatment process and thanks to Flint Michigan I am becoming more and more sceptical of where I am living as well. I'LL KEEP YOU ALL POSTED AT HOME. keep em coming Mr. Rogers
Agree? or Disagree?


Dave Rogers

Dave Rogers is a former editorial writer for the Bay City Times and a widely read,
respected journalist/writer in and around Bay City.
(Contact Dave Via Email at carraroe@aol.com)

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