Flint Residents Getting Past Due Notices for Poisoned Water Bills???

What's amazing is that no one, as far as my searches have found, thought to do any kind of testing on the water? Why didn't local water treatment authorities test the water?

During Earley's 16 months as Flint's emergency manager, the city went ahead with a plan to save money by switching its water supply from the Detroit system to a new pipeline consortium, and to use Flint River water until the new pipeline was ready. However, anti-corrosion agents were not added to the salty river water, causing metal leaching in city pipes and dangerously elevated lead levels among some residents. The state declared an emergency and began distributing bottled water.

Earley declined to speak to The Associated Press, but he defended his work Sunday on WDIV-TV.

"I don't look at it in terms of blame. ... I came along at a time when this project was already underway and it fell to me to oversee implementation of it," he said of using the river. "More facts like that need to be sought out instead of just trying to find someone or something to blame for it."

But some local officials say he shares in the responsibility.

"Darnell and the people in public works and finance in the city believed they could save between $6 million and $8 million. ... And this is what we've got because of that," said Kincaid, who has served on the city council for 30 years.
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What a task force investigation has determined.

According to the task force’s report, the department’s communication with the public often left much to be desired. The typical response offered by Wurfel and the agency on concerns about Flint’s water, the task force said, was “one of aggressive dismissal, belittlement, and attempts to discredit” independent studies.

“We find both the tone and substance of many MDEQ public statements to be completely unacceptable,” the task force said. “In a real way, the MDEQ represents the public, including the very individuals it treated dismissively and disrespectfully in public statements.”
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http://www.theguardian.com/us-news/...-snyder-very-sorry-about-water-supply-debacle
 
Dear I Love America:

I answer yours in posts 17 and 18 with reference to my prior post, # 12.

To reiterate, the policies that destroyed Flint were imposed by both parties.

Moreover, those policies were supported by the pseudo-left trade unions.

Since the wave of auto plant closings in the early '80s, unions began mouthing the improved profitability for long term autoworker prospects line. After three decades, AFSCME President [Local 1600] Sam Muma proffered the same, class-war conceit as the Flint began to flow into kitchen sinks: 'This is a good thing for the community. It will provide jobs' and make the city 'self-sufficient.' http://tinyurl.com/jqrnsbf . Had Governor Snyder said the same, no one could have batted an eye. S. Muma illustrates the utter, ideological bankruptcy of the pseudo-left/trade_union movement.

The whole political establishment – the ownership/investment/banking class, Republicans, Democrats, and trade unions – is together answerable for the assault against Flint. The gravity of this political attack is seen when it is recalled that even under foreign, military occupation, cities are not always subjected to such abuse and indifference to it. Make no mistake -- the whole political class stands ready to sacrifice the City of Flint. And if it goes, many more will follow.

As information comes to light, ruling_class/Republican-Democratic_duopoly/pseudo-left concern is limited solely to [1] containing emerging social resistance and [2], channeling very understandable outrage into harmless partisan action.

That is both the true nature and the purpose of the partisan bigotries/bickering surrounding this crisis. It is why none of those entities offers any effective solution to the crisis in Flint. Consonant with this is their refusal to come along side those who must live with these conditions, as the residents of Flint develop policy solutions they need.

Without differentiation, the whole political apparatus has failed. No section of the official, political system represents the working class in Flint.

I’m guessing that THIS is the true source of your consternation, I Love America. You know full well what that means. Precluded systemically from political representation, the Flint working class has no legal duty obligation TO that system.

Now another question: Exactly who made the decision to replace City of Detroit water with the Flint?

Former Emergency Manager Ed Kurtz certainly isn’t responsible, not withstanding this -- http://tinyurl.com/hu2g6a4 . Nor is present Emergency Manager, Darnell Earley, not withstanding -- http://tinyurl.com/zaxavgx where he writes, '...the City of Flint has actively pursued using the Flint River as a temporary water source while the KWA pipeline is being constructed.' But neither is the City of Flint responsible [give me the council minutes where such a motion was passed and I’ll repudiate my statement freely]. Former Mayor Dayne Walling isn’t responsible. Present Mayor Karen Weaver isn’t responsible. The Karegnondi Water Authority isn’t responsible. And Governor Snyder is not responsible, although the Earley document does bear the Great Seal of Michigan. That’s the remarkable thing; no one is responsible. Ever.

This leads to the observation that responsibility is talked freely but practiced sparingly.

But I have a feeling that the Flint working class may be rethinking that. I think that soon, at least some Flint workers will carry to the next, logical conclusion the recognition of their desertion/betrayal by the entire political class system.

The truth is, they should. No one caused the problem; no one proposes solutions. Even though I posed it as a rhetorical device to discuss the ‘responsibility’ problem, I now repudiate that as the WRONG question. Who did it doesn’t matter.

The ONLY question that TRULY matters is – who will RESOLVE it.

Resolution to THAT question belongs to the Flint working class – to them and them alone.

The Republicans/Democrats/trade_unionists/EPA/Obama_administration/Chamber_of_Commerce – in short the whole political class [Democratic or Republican factions] in service to the ruling elite – stands to be precluded from discussion. I hope Flint workers make it abundantly clear that their ‘aid’ is not requested, not welcome and won’t be accepted.

Moreover, the issue ISN’T lead in Flint’s water; the issue is entirely ownership/investment/banking agenda which the parasitic Democrats/Republican/trade_union/pseudo-left cabal supported for decades to the ruination of all.

It must be absolutely clear – this is NOT a Democratic/Republican or a Caucasian/African_American problem. Partisan and/or identity politics is to be rejected utterly as a ruling class attack on the whole working class.

That is why the whole working class should stand in solidarity with Flint residents at the upcoming Emergency Meeting to formulate an appropriate class response to the attack on the City of Flint and its working class.

IMT
 
Snyder has confessed to being responsible for the prolonging of the poisoning of Flints water and telling the people it was safe to drink..
That is where the crime is.
The criminal in the case has come forward and fessed up.
How can you defend that? He isn't even defending himself.
Snyder is going to prison.
 
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Dear Leonthecat:

The state is the play thing of the uber-wealthy. Think of the state as an administrator, hired to run the country in the interest the ownership/investment/banking class.
Come to think of it, there may be a better analogy. It is based on the world's oldest profession.

Pimps are powerful people because they are wealthy people -- just like the bourgeoisie. But pimps are never satisfied with their wealth -- just like the bourgeoisie. So pimps concoct schemes to extract wealth from those around them -- just like the bourgeoisie. But as they can't extract wealth directly, pimps need others to do their dirty work for them -- just like the bourgeoisie. And pimps need a measure of consent from the community to manufacture some legitimacy for their criminal enterprise -- just like the bourgeoisie. Eventually, this buzzard business is recognized for what it is -- just like the bourgeoisie. Since people sometimes decide that the town needs cleaning, pimps need goons to ensure that their rules are followed and they get their money -- just like the bourgeoisie.

The ownership/investment/banking class-pimp writes the legislation [rules] which their whores [politicians] then pass for the rest of us [johns] to follow to the enrichment of the pimp. Police/military goons ensure that the pimp’s rules are followed. Occasionally, the pimp’s racket runs low on legitimacy. So the whores hit the streets to solicit public support. This is called an election. Elections are not about sex. Yet for some inexplicable reason, voters are always screwed. Why?
The state is a whore.

And judges refusing to serve the uber-wealthy won’t have distinguished careers. Whores who support them will find regular jobs soon. Unless or until you put away the pimp, whores will whore, goons will goon, and judges will applaud the whole operation.

If Governor Snyder or any major figure in this fiasco goes to jail, I'll eat my shirt.

IMT

PS: When partisan whores arrive on your doorstep with their propaganda leaflets, you might tell them that you don’t support legalized prostitution [which is more like elections than not], and that they are not to disseminate political pornography in the community of which you are a part. Keep your iPhone handy. The look on their faces will be priceless.
 
IMT said:
Dear Leonthecat:

The state is the play thing of the uber-wealthy. Think of the state as an administrator, hired to run the country in the interest the ownership/investment/banking class.
Come to think of it, there may be a better analogy. It is based on the world's oldest profession.

Pimps are powerful people because they are wealthy people -- just like the bourgeoisie. But pimps are never satisfied with their wealth -- just like the bourgeoisie. So pimps concoct schemes to extract wealth from those around them -- just like the bourgeoisie. But as they can't extract wealth directly, pimps need others to do their dirty work for them -- just like the bourgeoisie. And pimps need a measure of consent from the community to manufacture some legitimacy for their criminal enterprise -- just like the bourgeoisie. Eventually, this buzzard business is recognized for what it is -- just like the bourgeoisie. Since people sometimes decide that the town needs cleaning, pimps need goons to ensure that their rules are followed and they get their money -- just like the bourgeoisie.

The ownership/investment/banking class-pimp writes the legislation [rules] which their whores [politicians] then pass for the rest of us [johns] to follow to the enrichment of the pimp. Police/military goons ensure that the pimp’s rules are followed. Occasionally, the pimp’s racket runs low on legitimacy. So the whores hit the streets to solicit public support. This is called an election. Elections are not about sex. Yet for some inexplicable reason, voters are always screwed. Why?
The state is a whore.

And judges refusing to serve the uber-wealthy won’t have distinguished careers. Whores who support them will find regular jobs soon. Unless or until you put away the pimp, whores will whore, goons will goon, and judges will applaud the whole operation.

If Governor Snyder or any major figure in this fiasco goes to jail, I'll eat my shirt.

IMT

PS: When partisan whores arrive on your doorstep with their propaganda leaflets, you might tell them that you don’t support legalized prostitution [which is more like elections than not], and that they are not to disseminate political pornography in the community of which you are a part. Keep your iPhone handy. The look on their faces will be priceless.
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Whores often go to prison when they do worse crimes than selling their bodies.
Snyder will too.
 
Democratic State Treasurer Played Key Role in Flint Water Disaster:

'Andy Dillon, who played a key role in the conspiracy to throw Detroit into bankruptcy, gave the go-ahead for Flint to leave the Detroit water system, a decision that set in motion the disaster.'

'Emails released by the office of Michigan Governor Rick Snyder further demonstrate the involvement of state and federal officials from both the Republican and Democratic parties in the poisoning of Flint residents and the subsequent cover-up.'

'The response of the Obama administration to the crisis illustrates the hostility and indifference of all sections of the ruling elite to the dire conditions facing workers in Flint and around the world. In the face of the poisoning of tens of thousands of children and adults that has resulted in brain and genetic damage that will span generations, the White House has only offered federal aid of $80 million, less than half the cost on just one F-35 fighter jet...'

http://tinyurl.com/jo4fkap

IMT
 
IMT said:
Democratic State Treasurer Played Key Role in Flint Water Disaster:

'Andy Dillon, who played a key role in the conspiracy to throw Detroit into bankruptcy, gave the go-ahead for Flint to leave the Detroit water system, a decision that set in motion the disaster.'

'Emails released by the office of Michigan Governor Rick Snyder further demonstrate the involvement of state and federal officials from both the Republican and Democratic parties in the poisoning of Flint residents and the subsequent cover-up.'

'The response of the Obama administration to the crisis illustrates the hostility and indifference of all sections of the ruling elite to the dire conditions facing workers in Flint and around the world. In the face of the poisoning of tens of thousands of children and adults that has resulted in brain and genetic damage that will span generations, the White House has only offered federal aid of $80 million, less than half the cost on just one F-35 fighter jet...'

http://tinyurl.com/jo4fkap

IMT
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As with Nixon, Snyder will go down for the cover-up, not for the decision to act.
 
IMT said:
Democratic State Treasurer Played Key Role in Flint Water Disaster:

'Andy Dillon, who played a key role in the conspiracy to throw Detroit into bankruptcy, gave the go-ahead for Flint to leave the Detroit water system, a decision that set in motion the disaster.'

'Emails released by the office of Michigan Governor Rick Snyder further demonstrate the involvement of state and federal officials from both the Republican and Democratic parties in the poisoning of Flint residents and the subsequent cover-up.'

'The response of the Obama administration to the crisis illustrates the hostility and indifference of all sections of the ruling elite to the dire conditions facing workers in Flint and around the world. In the face of the poisoning of tens of thousands of children and adults that has resulted in brain and genetic damage that will span generations, the White House has only offered federal aid of $80 million, less than half the cost on just one F-35 fighter jet...'

http://tinyurl.com/jo4fkap

IMT
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I can see why you used tinyurl for that link! World Socialist Web Site is hardly going to impartial.
 
Dear Borboletta:

I use tinyurl because tiny urls better insert into text.

Of course the site has a definable perspective. It is a genuinely working class perspective. And it refuses to play that predictable and pathetic 'good_cop/bad_cop/Democrat_Republican' game.

IMT
 
oh BTW


using the water would have been fine.

SOMEONE decided to save 100 dollars a day by NOT properly treating the water with an anti corrosive.



who made that call?
 
Dear Leonthecat:

I Love America has good reason to believe that Snyder won't hit the slammer. I concede freely that Snyder seems eager so to position himself so as to NOT face prison. But as my posts, I Love America's posts and the WSWS show, there is plenty of guilt for everyone. Under our present system, the line between so-called 'justice' and criminal enterprise is blurred exceedingly.

The austerity agenda is being implemented around the globe. Clearly, that agenda does not originate with respective governments. The ownership/investment/banking class around the world stands united in determination to impose that agenda regardless of the social conditions it precipitates. And as our global economy slips into crisis, the ruling class will have no choice but to impose more and more austerity. There is a reason for which domestic surveillance/security is one of the few industries that is actually booming. I still have my shirt and don't relish eating it. But at this point I'm really not worried about it. How many top CEO/banksters associated with the '08 crash are biding their time behind bars?

IMT
 
IMT said:
Dear I Love America:

To whom does that Emergency Manager directly report? Governor Snyder.
From whom does that Emergency Manager take direction? Governor Snyder.

Governor Snyder is implicated along with Mayor Weaver and President Obama not because he is a Republican but because he is implicated.

IMT
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LMAO... and the EPA who reports to Obama? By your standards, the EM (a Democrat) reported to Snyder implicating him. So Obama is also implicated because the EPA reports to him.
 
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