By John Vibes
As the water crisis in Flint deepens, it is becoming apparent that the effects of the lead-infested water are not just a health hazard, but the situation has the potential of ruining many more lives outside of the poison issue. There is no denying that the water in Flint is undrinkable and that it is contaminated with lead and other substances, and it is clear that the government of Flint is responsible for the problem.
However, the city’s government continues to charge people for the poison water and then threatening to foreclose their home or take their children if they refuse to pay. Michigan law states that parents are neglectful if they do not have running water in their home, and if they chose not to pay for water they can’t drink anyway, then they could be guilty of child endangerment. Activists in Flint say that some residents have already received similar threats from the government if they refuse to pay their bills.
Flint residents have recently filed two class action lawsuits calling for all water bills since April of 2014 to be considered null and void because of the fact that the water was poisonous.
“We are seeking for the court to declare that all the bills that have been issued for usage of water invalid because the water has not been fit for its intended purpose,” said Trachelle Young, one of the attorneys bringing the lawsuit said in court.
“Essentially, the residents have been getting billed for water that they cannot use. Because of that, we do not feel that is a fair way to treat the residents,” Young added.
Recent estimates have indicated that it could take up to 15 years and over $60 million to fix the problem, and the residents will be essentially forced to live there until the problem is solved. Despite the fact that the issue is obviously the government’s responsibility, they have made it illegal for people to sell their homes because of the fact that they are known to carry contaminated water. Meanwhile, residents are still left to purchase bottled water on their own, in addition to paying their water bill.
Although this problem is finally getting national media attention in Flint, they aren’t the only city with contaminated water supplies. In fact, a recent report published by The Guardian showed that public water supplies across the country were experiencing similar issues.
This crisis highlights the many dangers of allowing the government to maintain a monopoly on the water supply and calls attention to the fact that decentralized solutions to water distribution should be a goal that we start working towards.
Also Read:
Leaked Emails: Gov’t Officials Mocked Flint Residents Who Complained About Water
John Vibes is an author and researcher who organizes a number of large events including the Free Your Mind Conference. He also has a publishing company where he offers a censorship free platform for both fiction and non-fiction writers. You can contact him and stay connected to his work at his Facebook page. You can purchase his books, or get your own book published at his website www.JohnVibes.com.
WTH??? WE THE PEOPLE need to resist this inhuman government criminal enterprise.
Sadly, the kids might be better off with relatives than with the state, but better with the state than as abandoned and starving, and prostituted, street children. If the parents were preppers, the kids might each have their own personal lifestraws.
I hope the majority of women do something to protect their families.
Why just the women? Are you assuming men don’t care about their children??
This article does.
Because the men of Flint don’t give a damn about their families’ health? Better have your own water tested.
UN/CFR is out to destroy fathers.
Sounds like you’re volunteering your help.
UN/CFR are very capable.
That’s BS. Those tax paying residents need to band together and STOP paying their water bills. It’s times like this that demand THE PEOPLE stand up and do what’s right.
AMERICANS ARE COMPLETELY SPINELESS AND WILL DO ABSOLUTELY NOTHING AS USUAL!
I’M LAUGHING AT HOW WEAK AMERICANS TRULY ARE!!! AMERICANS DESERVE EVERYTHING BAD THAT EVER HAPPENS TO THEM FOR BEING SO WEAK AND JUST TO CHICKEN? TO DO ANYTHING ABOUT THIS AND ALL THE OTHER CRIMNAL STUFF THE GOVERNMENT DOES.
The majority of americans have the misconception that if they ignore something it will go away, or, if it isn’t affecting me PERSONALLY than they won’t do anything about it.
We couldn’t be further from the truth on this subject because we are talking about corruption. Corruption is just like RUST and its only nature is to grow and consume until all resources are GONE. That’s all it knows and all it will do. There’s no ignoring it or hiding from it, and this mindset will eventually lead us to only two options.
Complete subjugation or violent revolution. Criminals and tyrants never stop till they are stopped by an outside source. We are talking about people who are mentally and morally damaged. With them, it is either complete domination or crash and burn.
There is a third option that would work but I’m afraid the american people are too divided to use it, and it’s the BEST solution with no loss of life.
Complete with drawl from the system. Everyone takes a weeks vacation at the same time and we prove NOTHING works without US. They need us, not the other way around.
Those who are threatened with termination will see the ones who threatened them lose their jobs when it is over. The same process for any other coercion or threats upon people engaging in the strike. They don’t want you to ever figure this out because there is nothing they can do about it. They can fine, incarcerate and scare people all they want but when the whole system is down they are completely powerless.
very good!
Speak for yourself. Let’s KNOW that words are POWERFUL –
THANK YOU !!!!! If you listen to these TALKING RETARDS you would think you are not suppose to BREATH without asking the permission
!
The elected officials of the city need to be arrested for child endangerment, amongst other things, they are in breach of trust
The elected officials of the city had no power. The Governor’s Office had turned the city’s management over to unelected technocrat receivers. They made these decisions not Flint politicians.
You have kids permanently damaged healthwise, so someone can make a buck & you want them arrested? THIS is what is wrong with this country today, no balls.
In 1930 or even as late as 1970, the people of the town would have been organization and would have brought down the Flint government. Unfortunately the population has been conditioned since the womb through (mis)education & TV to stay home, be alone, and just watch TV or play on their iPhone. The only way for change is for people to learn to band together to make a difference.
Perhaps drinking leaded water has turned them all into dull cattle, unable to comprehend their predicament. Lead severely lowers IQs. As does mercury and fluoride.
The majority of people are fence sitters because they either have no conviction or they are taking the cowards way out. They have the misconception that no decision or action is neutral when it is not.
No decision is still a decision and it will take 10-15 % of the normal thinking population to band together and start a movement against the criminality. Then all the fence sitters will jump on board like the followers they are.
The same thing happened in winning our independence from england and even then many thought of themselves as subjects of the king and anyone wanting to be free was an enemy. We’ve come full circle.
I couldn’t agree more. The thing I have the least patience with is cowardice. Of all sorts.
Well said!
I said a similar thing to bunch of people the other day. Well said…
They voted for democratic or republican politicians. Things like this happen when people do stupid things like that. The politicians that were involved in this event need to be severely punished..
This is the new ‘Love Canal’ of the 70’s.
Until the 1938 clean water act, working class Americans were not entitled to fresh, drinking water. This is why diseases like polio and cholera were epidemic. The Ruling Class has never cared to provide workers with fresh water. It was only fear of revolution that made the Ruling Elite concede to give us clean water. With no Left communist snd anarchist parties, of course they are poisoning us all over. Unless we organize, things will only get worse.
SO much for that neo con anti unionist propaganda everyone fell for. Collectivism is the only way for the little man to survive in a world of giants. And the giants our generation faces are feet taller than the ones our fathers faced. You people had better open your eyes real quick.
Collectivism is how humans do everything. If you mean forced collectivism at the point of a gun by some inefficient and violent bureaucracy, you’re completely wrong. Basically your statement is at best a non-sequitur.
Baloney.
The last cholera outbreak in the United States was in 1910–1911, when the steamship Moltke brought infected people from Naples to New York City. Vigilant health authorities isolated the infected in quarantine on Swinburne Island. Eleven people died, including a health care worker at the hospital on the island.
Polio was not transmitted via water either.
And they have been poisoning us since the 1950’s with fluoride, if you haven’t noticed.
Poliovirus can be transmitted through contaminated water and food or through direct contact with someone infected with the virus. Polio is so contagious that anyone living with a recently infected person is likely to become infected, too. People carrying the poliovirus can spread the virus for weeks in their feces.
And by the aluminum and barium, and all the other chemicals falling on us from the chemtrails…if your one that has not closed your mind to that situation, like some have. Oh, and by all the many man made chemicals in our foods and the GMO’s.
Is this a joke?
Far from a “joke.” Do some Research and Educate yourself on what’s Really going on in the world. I hope your stupid question was a J-O-K-E.
My Grandmother, her mother and sisters came over on the Moltke, from Naples, in April 1907. Nice to be reminded of that when I saw you mentioned the Moltke.
As for Cholera…it is still in existence in the US. I grew up on a farm and my father bought about six piglets. He put them in a small shed overnight and the following morning, I went out to feed them and found most of them dead and a couple near dead.
Turns out the previous owner of the farm held animals that had cholera in that shed. From what I understand, he was supposed to have burned the shed down to kill the cholera virus. Supposedly, the cholera virus can live in the ground for a number of years so burning the shed would have been necessary.
With a GOP Governor, I think it possible this was done intentionally to show what “public” utilities will do to the people, whereas, privatizing the public water supply will ensure safer water. The GOP are doing their best to control all public utilities, public schools and other public offices by privatizing everything…this is a good way to make it LOOK like privatization is the only way to get things done properly. However, it was a GOP governor that started this poisoning of the citizens of Flint in the first place. It had nothing to do with an accident, nor of an inferior public system that private ownership could have prevented. THE GOP GOVERNOR INTENTIONALLY POISONED THOSE PEOPLE! IT WAS AN ACT OF TERRORISM!
So the governor actually added the lead, or did he just not take immediate action when he found out about it – as I read in the media? Both actions are as bad as each other, but statements like you just made will not help the lawsuit. It makes you look crazy and unreasonable – as if no mater what the truth is you will still accuse without knowledge. The more important question for the lawsuit would be; did the residents use water that they knew, as in were they informed about it being poisonous? To make a finer point, are they being billed on water meters that measure actual usage, or is it a flat rate – everybody pays the same amount for water service regardless of how much is used? If it is a payment for service ( having the water available to them) they will likely lose the lawsuit and will have to pay their bills. if it is a payment for water actually used – the lawsuit will hinge on whether they were using contaminated water AFTER being told about it – and made an informed decision to use it anyway – they will lose and have to pay their bills – hey, they used the water. The other question is, did FEMA or another agency, like the city government – provide potable water to use in place of the contaminated water, or instruct the citizens how to make the water safe for use in their own homes? If the government did do all that – well, the citizens pay. They only way the citizens don’t pay is for all the time they used poisonous water but were never informed about it.
Sounds as if your water supply is of the leaded variety, as well.
Apparently from birth.
This guy is beyond hope.
Talk about buying the government BS hook line a sinker. These are the kind of spineless suck ups that think if they follow every corrupt edict they will be in favor with their abusers.
Pathetic
Wow. I feel for the folks in Flint- I really do- but GODDAMN you people are ridiculous. Way to attract folks to your side.
You’ll find no candy coating with me so go back to watching TV, then you can pretend all you want.
Is that using the Lord’s name in vain, really necessary??
Yes
Yeah and we all know them. I work with one! You and i call them ‘sheeple’. They laugh at you, talk behind your back and isolate you. And yet, they dont realise they are nothing but cowards. We need to be careful of these ‘sheeple’ though. They live next door to us and may even be friends? But, when push turns to shove they will sell you out in a heartbeat when asked to.
You are so right.
The snitches getting even during Hitler were rampant and I see us going down the same road.
Yep! I see that, too…
I see you have an issue with critical thinking. As for looking crazy…I’ve never worried what others think…that includes you.
You are a bit too focused on how much water did they actually use and meter readings to see if they actually used all that water…yada yada yada… instead of the lack of quality of that water. The Gov.’s office KNEW back in Jan. ’15 that the water was unfit to drink and did absolutely nothing about it. He allowed those people to drink water polluted with lead and probably a host of other toxic chemicals…that’s FACT, as emails prove. So how much water these people actually used is a moot point…don’t you think?
The people didn’t know the water was polluted. They did complain, for almost TWO YEARS it looked and tasted funny but were told the water was just fine…don’t worry about drinking it! They relied on their Governor’s administration to tell them the truth…but they were lied to. Even if they decided they weren’t going to risk being poisoned, even though they were told the water was just fine, these are poor people who can’t afford to buy spring water for all of their usage and why would they when they were told the water was fit to drink?
I think your problem with what I said had to do with me emphasizing the Gov is a Republican.
Um, you made several, references to it. If you were truly independent in your thinking, the party of the Governor would not have been mentioned.
Government is corrupt in general, and we should be more activist in our response to their incompetence and greed. Most voters, sadly, are uninformed and ignorant, and only choose to erupt AFTER the damage is done.
To your point, what specifically has FEMA and the Obama administration done about it? They are quick to litigate every instance of anything and anyone who does even the slightest thing against them or the environment (BP, Exxon, etc.) yet when they screw up (IRS, Animas River Spill), they are NEVER held accountable or fined for their “mistakes”. They excuse it by calling it “sovereign immunity”.
However, using your logic, if you want to go that route, just remember that the cities of Chicago, Baltimore and Detroit (for 3 examples) have been run by LIBERAL DEMOCRAT SOCIALISTS for over 70 years.
They are in ruins with the false promises and narratives that have sustained their grip on power by preying on those who have raised into ignorance by a school system that focuses not on the “Three R’s”, but on fabricated hype of social “injustices” and the idea that they are owed something for doing nothing.
Sadly, however, both parties are guilty…one for creating it, and the other for letting it happen and not reversing course.
Now, tell me where my emphasis is….
There is no question we have Democrats that are no different than the GOP, i.e., Hillary Clinton, Steve Israel, Debbie Wasserman-Schultz and a host of others that are just as corrupt as Rick Snyder, Chris Christie, John Kasich, and many other GOP Gov. However, most GOP are members of ALEC which is a Fourth Reich/New World Order organization, with very few Dem members.
As for education, the latest fiasco that needs mentioning is Common Core which was championed by Bill Gates and implemented by Jeb Bush while Gov. of Florida and is the education of the day in most of the Southern states, or I should say the Red States.
I agree with you that Obama has fallen short in many areas as President of the US. I was not happy with many of the decisions he implemented and for many of them how long it took for him to take any action at all.
Having said all this…my remarks were meant to address the Flint water issue only. I just love it when people go off on ALL of the issues of the day to throw at someone just to make a point. All I said about the Flint situation was TRUE. The Gov.’s office knew about the Lead issue since January of last year and they did nothing about it (other than tell the residents that the water was safe to drink) and allow the people of Flint to drink it for almost two years. I don’t see what there’s to argue about. However, I’m aware if I say I am wearing a green dress, there will be those that will just love to argue that the dress I’m wearing may not be actually green, even though they have no way of knowing what color my dress is.
We have a similar problem to this at a place called Williamtown, near my home town in Newcastle, Australia. The whole thing is disgraceful. And who knew about it all along? The government!
Your response to Woman Patriot is so far removed from any kind of decent thinking person I would say you are insane, brainwashed or a paid disinformation agent.
You apparently like the abuse this criminal government dispense to you.
Leave the rest of us out. We still have our sanity and can tell a lie when we hear it.
WomanPatriot & others here seem to fall right in line with our society’s take on life today – “oh, I’m a victim!” If I understand what you’re saying, you are stating the legal facts, not an emotional diatribe. If they used water they will have to pay for it. They can sue, I’m sure, for health & financial ramifications, but you still must pay your bill. If the state doesn’t maintain the road, I hit a pot hole & break an axle, I still have to make my car payment.
That was my point, just the legal fight they would be facing, as only you noticed, I was not commenting on right or wrong, just trying to advise how to win it, by knowing what is coming. Bashing and name calling won’t win it. I feel for all the victims – but- you have to approach it in a different way to win it. The American legal system favors the government, because it IS the government. All the commenters attacking my post, well, I expected it – no one really “reads” anymore. Thank your government for that as well.
I would not expect measured, rational discourse on an extremist “activist” website (such as this). Unless you are a sycophant, you will be derided and bullied- as you’ve just found out. These people are the reason no one takes activists seriously anymore.
That being said, I feel for the folks in Flint and sincerely hope a viable working solution is found, and found rapidly.
Yes, we are all extremists for coming to this site and we are sycophants and bullies, because we don’t think just like you.
You just implicated yourself with your own statement.
And the only measured and rational discourse is how you define it.
Your so far out in left field it isn’t even funny.
Why are you here, friend?
I just wanted to personally thank you for adding absolutely nothing of value to this conversation (your car payment has nothing to do with the public service of road maintenance you weirdo)
The local government has a legal obligation to provide quality water at defined standards, but oh, you didn’t think about that did you.
You think we should all just accept anything the government does and says.
Einstein said, “Those happy to walk rank and file already have my contempt. They needn’t a brain, a stem would suffice”
You just keep marching to the governments tune. I already know where you’ll end up.
LOL! Sue the government? You wont get far on that road in Australia, friend! We are facing similar problems here and the government just keeps writing new laws to protect themselves. They always win then send you ALL legal costs. This is happening in my home town. People are actually ending their own lives after being buried by government. Its government way of letting EVERYONE know who is boss. Sad but, true!
Once again, you area correct. In my estimation we have more of a MAFIA than a government.
A legitimate government would follow and be held to the same laws as the people.
No. Bad analogies. They are paying for a service: the delivery of potable water. That service is not being provided because of misfeasance. You order a hamburger and a coke. You get rotten meat and a glass of crankcase oil. You don’t pay. Then you sue. The end.
So a few things I wanted to comment on about what you’ve said here –
Flint operates on a metered system. So you pay for actual usage, rather than flat rate. But there are a few factors here that I think the courts will be taking into consideration which may very well lead to citizens not having to pay for the water they used.
1 – In addition to paying for actual usage, customers are charged a monthly “Service Charge”. I’ve no doubt that the lawyers representing the citizens will argue that this service charge is a fee customers pay for the upkeep, monitoring and distribution of usable and drinkable water. A service the city failed to provide. They’ll argue that collection of the fee each month represents a binding promise by the city to provide those services… and an acknowledgment that they are expected to provide those services to the customer. They’ll also argue that when a customer pays for water, it is expected that water will be drinkable, not just usable for bathing, unless SPECIFICALLY stated otherwise… since that’s the standard arrangement between customers and water providers across the country.
2 – Part of the hoopla over this rests with the fact that the city/state did little-to-nothing to inform the citizens that there was a problem with the water until earlier this month. They did not include any notices with water bills or do much of anything, really, in terms of ensuring most – if not all – of their customers were made aware that the water was no longer safe to consume. This, despite the fact that the water had not been safe to consume for a considerably long time.
3 – This situation also involves quite a bit of dishonesty on the part of the city/state. There are actually two separate and distinct issues with the water being provided. One, is the source of the water – the Flint River. Until last year, water for the city was provided via the Detroit water system. Gov. Snyder and his emergency manager decided it was more cost effective to use the water from the river instead of continuing to pay Detroit to provide the water. There’s a bit of irony there, given that Detroit was ALSO under emergency management and in a fiscal crisis… since Snyder effectively cut off a source of funding for Detroit by putting Flint on river water.
Under the BEST of circumstances, the river water is wholly unacceptable as a water supply. But here’s where the second problem came in – the actual physical infrastructure of the Flint water delivery system. Because of contaminants in the river water, high amounts of lead started being leached from the pipes in the city’s water pipeline. That wasn’t an issue with the “clean” water being piped in from Detroit… there weren’t the proper contaminants in it to cause the leaching.
It was the proverbial perfect storm – a questionable water source (the river), coupled with a water delivery system that had not been properly maintained or updated, and inefficient/insufficient monitoring of the water flowing into homes throughout the city. Add massive incompetence and negligence on the part of the city/state in informing the citizens about the dangers in the water… and outright deception by ONLY mentioning that the water was now coming from the river (with no mention of the lead in the pipes, the lack of monitoring, the inability to properly filter out contaminants, etc.) and it’s clear that the city and state ARE culpable and knowingly/willfully failed to uphold their end of the contract implied by the collection of the aforementioned service charge.
They knew the water they were providing wasn’t safe for human consumption… they knew they were putting their customers at risk… and they did it anyway. They knowingly failed to uphold their end of the consumer contract and did not provide the service or product they were charging for (safe water via a safe system).
Good analysis.
Now for the kicker.
The money they sought to save by this careless and incompetent switching of systems will be completely lost and then some with lawsuits for endangerment.
Quite IRONIC.
So they lost confidence with their public they are supposed to serve, lost money, and credibility along with hurting people with the poisoned water.
And some of these people are making at least 200K/yr.
Crime does pay.
Are You Serious ? Are Just Stupid, No the Gov. DID NOT ADD LEAD IN THE WATER, it came from the Old (lead)Pipes
Wow, I did not say they did…. read much? I was responding to an accusation made by the lady I was responding too who implied that the Governor was solely responsible for the lead in the water – he may be culpable, but is not directly responsible – the lead leached out of the old pipes…. to say what she did made it look like she was saying the governor added the lead on purpose…. which is why I wrote what I wrote.
This has been a real eye opening experience on here, not many people read and understand English anymore.
lol actually carl the city made official announcements several times to residents telling them that the water was fine enough. if anything is done about the situation in flint it will be because national pressure moved them to do so. if this particular story hadnt happened to get quickly picked up through news and media, we wouldnt even be talking about it. many many other cities in the US are facing the same issue right now as well ..
I am only getting bits and pieces of what has gone on from the media, I did not realize until I read after you posted this that the mayor/water treatment guys, governor all failed and told everybody the water was fine to drink…. they will all have to be sued no doubt. And no, in this case, they should stuff their water bills where the sun don’t shine.
get a grip on yourself, let the man who can stop the rise of the ocean come in and set it right, then blame the current governor if the feds fix it all!
The GOP did it huh? Lady you are a special kind of stupid.
I can see you haven’t a clue what is going on. Just to inform you, Gov. Rick Snyder is a Republican (GOP) and what he did was intentional. But, that’s OK if you don’t know what is going on. Pretty soon…you will.
This is a terroristic threat and it should be investigated and prosecuted as such.
What more UN necessary infractions need be committed against the people to prove those in positions of control are not only incompetent, arrogant, abusive, but criminal as well.
HOW BAD DOES IT HAVE TO GET BEFORE PEOPLE REALIZE WE HAVE THE WRONG ONES IN CONTROL. ARE WE THAT SCARED OF HIGH SCHOOL BULLIES, BECAUSE THAT IS ALL THEY ARE.
They weren’t transported from some advanced planet, they didn’t phase in from an alternate reality, they are the people you went to school with who weaseled their way into gravy government jobs that they are incapable of handling.
Liars thieves and con men.
And this typifies what we have in DC as well
I cant understand why WE ARE ALL SO DIVIDED! Stand up and fight together! They will keep going for as long as we let them, people! BUT, WE HAVE TO STAND TOGETHER! They already FEAR US! I have stood up to many bullies in my life and they are ALL THE SAME! INSECURE AND AFRAID OF LOSING CONTROL! KICK THEM WHERE IT HURTS AND THEN KICK THEM WHEN THEY ARE DOWN. Yes I know, it sounds ‘out there’, but it works and sometimes very necessary…
AMERICANS ARE COMPLETELY SPINELESS & EXTREMELY WEAK TO DO ANYTHING!
SO AS USUAL NOTHING WILL EVER BE DONE BY THESE WEAK, LAZY AND WORTHLESS PEOPLE!
AMERICANS TRULY ARE WEAK!
AMERICANS DESERVE EVERYTHING BAD THAT EVER HAPPENS TO THEM FOR BEING SO WEAK AND CHICKEN TO EVER DO ANYTHING ABOUT THESE CRIMINAL ACTS OF THE GOVERNMENT.
Seems to me, as with other city water issues, and or city water that is beyond reasonable palatable water taste, and that is that we purchase bottled water. However, if the water of a city municipality is poison as they imply, then it’s up to the city management officials to clean up a mess that the residents had no participation in messing up’ per se- But if there is truth to the fact that they are threatening to take OUR CHILDREN???! WTF??? There are only a few options we as a nation can do, and only one or two that does not contain violence. With that said, it seems to me the USA is yet becoming, evolving into non viable entity. I recommend to anyone reading this to consider as our ancestors once thought of- a thought of retreat….to leave this country for better grounds….purer water, healthier living standards, and of course, a better tolerance to people of God. Those are just some thoughts, opinions…options. When the gov’t and cities of this country present themselves as an enemy instead of friend, then options for a better future dwindle.
Yeah well look what democrats have done to Detroit and Chicago:
In 1961 the reins of political power in the city fell permanently into Democratic Party hands. In the 53 years that have passed since then, Detroit has not had a single Republican mayor. Indeed it has elected only one Republican to its City Council since 1970.
The water everywhere in Michigan tastes like rust it’s terrible
Yeah well look what democrats have done to Detroit and Chicago:
In 1961 the reins of political power in the city fell permanently into Democratic Party hands. In the 53 years that have passed since then, Detroit has not had a single Republican mayor. Indeed it has elected only one Republican to its City Council since 1970.
We had a water break here, and a boil water order (until further notice) was issued. Trouble was, they didn’t bother to tell anyone. We didn’t find out for two days! When I called them up, the city clerk gave me a weak excuse-“We try to tell everyone.” I told her that if they keep doing business as usual, and the bodies start stacking up like cordwood from their neglect, there would be severe legal repercussions for them. She hung up on me.
Everyone should find a way to filter their water, boil order or not. Just don’t trust so-called “officials” to do the right thing. Go to your local city council meetings, and demand to know what is being done to mitigate the potential effects of water contamination.
Water is used for much more than drinking so households should still be paying something. Put the price that pay for non-drinkable water should definitely be less than for drinkable water!
And when the government provides your water and you don’t pay, guess what? You will be paying for it in your taxes…
It’s not water. It’s POISON! They can’t even wash with it. You’re a toady.
I read in the local paper today (Toledo Blade) that they are passing out water filters to the people of Flint. Does anyone know what brand and type of filters they are passing out? I did a search and could only find mention of filters were being passed out, not the brand used.
Personally I have a Berkey counter-top and a Katadyn Pocket filter (portable) I use, but I was wondering what they are using. I can’t imagine they are giving out Berkey or Katadyn filters as it would get expensive to do so for thousands of people. And no politician would want to buy quality things for the people in their city.
PS: These days no one should trust any city or government to deliver safe potable water to their home. We all should have a top quality filter and spare elements for the filter.
Yep, this is what happens when you allow the same business that is in charge of your security to be in charge of your water and child welfare services….
Agree, though I wouldn’t refer to these organizations as a business, maybe entity, since they operate by coercion, not contract.
However, the city’s government continues to charge people for the poison
water and then threatening to foreclose their home or take their
children if they refuse to pay
Who ?? In the city government issued that order ?? Find out & once you know who it is ?? Then you can take action …… Remember FEAR is the greatest emotion ….
could there be another reason? such as getting as many of the current residents out for another group to move in? or to build something there? like a lot of work and cover up after all they did admit it is the government’s fault, they usually just say we’ll take care of it, unless they want you gone!
This is grounds for legitimate revolt. Occupy Michigan needs to begin.
Time to arm up.
That governor has gone from cruel politician to monster. If this guy doesn’t end up in prison, there is no legal system in the the US.
It’s totally unacceptable to use the threat of taking people’s kids as a collection technique.
On a totally different subject, if people are bathing, cleaning and flushing toilets with this water, why shouldn’t they pay for what they use?
BECAUSE IT’S POISON. It’s an unacceptable product. Not only is it poison, but they’re paying HUNDREDS OF DOLLARS for the poison.
If it were unacceptable for any use, they won’t be using any and I’d agree about not paying any service charge, but I get the impression it is still used for everything except drinking and cooking. If that’s the case, they should pay their bill.
It’s a faulty, unacceptable product for which there is no alternative product made accessible. Should they buy bottled water to wash with?
As far as I can see, the product is barely acceptable for toilet-flushing.
dam devils! we need a arm protest. I bet things will get done
This is what happens when you put people in charge who despise government and want to do anything in it’s power to destroy public systems. If you know anything of the Emergency Financial Manager law, then you know that it has been used by the anti government Snyder to usurp cities like Detroit and Flint so things like this can happen. Who is it that paid for Snyder to be elected? Look up the DeVos family (Amway) and the Mackinac center. “Small Government” minded people, at least when it comes to regulations on their activities.
Id like to take the feds to court for extracting money from my labor and given nothing in return – especially not any form of representation.
Government is the worst investment I have ever been robbed out of.
GL Flint Mich.
Some friends of mine who live in a little Podunk town in California have been getting notices – regularly, like clockwork – for about 2 years now, letting them know that their water contains unsafe levels of Arsenic.
I tell ya what – some cockstain ever tells me, “You have to pay for water,” they’ll be fed a length of pipe – sideways. I will beat them until they quit twitching.
The real problem is the people of this nation still naively believe they have a legitimate government.
Not even at the local level folks. Corruption is rampant and criminal behavior by our so called leaders is at an all time high. When was the last time you heard of any local or federal official held accountable for their crimes. Fraud, lies, dereliction of duty resulting in personal injury are all crimes.
You have a mafia that is running roughshod over you making you believe there is nothing you can do.
They will start a very long investigation to bury this and many will have forgotten and moved on to the next crisis.
The laws don’t apply to them just us. They couldn’t be displaying more contempt for you.
You better wake up soon and realize you have enemies lording over you and it will only get worse because they see our inaction as total weakness and gives them the green light to continue more.
After all, look at all they have done so far and not one person has paid for their infractions so why should they be afraid. If we keep acting like doormats we can expect to be stepped on.
You are so right! What Gov. Snyder did was blatant contempt for the poor of Flint. Unfortunately, the greater masses haven’t a clue what is going on, when you see the voters that want Trump, Cruz or any of those GOP and the voters that want Hillary (no different from the GOP). The problem isn’t these candidates…the problem is the people believing these people have their interests at heart…they don’t! If the people were educated, they would demand different candidates. Personally, I’m tired of voting for the lesser of two evils. The GOP & Hillary want the TPP/TTIP which will greatly cripple our country…just like Hillary’s hubby, Bill, did with NAFTA and then abolishing Glass-Steagall that allowed Wall St. to rob us blind and crash our economy that, in spite of what is said, is still a disaster with the real unemployment number being around 18% or higher. If Hillary gets in the Oval Office, that unemployment number will be our highest in history.
If one will read about Hitler’s rise to power with the Third Reich you will recognize what is happening now is the Fourth Reich only now they are calling it the New World Order but they are one and the same. Their goals are the same financially supported by the same…Bankers and Corporations.
Very true…thank you!
The former Lord Mayor of my city is a developer. He was busted paying bribes to local and state government leaders to get HIS new developments passed. Well they resigned and just walked away without punishment and living on a lucrative tax payer life. And, the developments are going full steam ahead! WAKE UP PEOPLE!
Americans are WEAK, STUPID and COMPLETELY SPINLESS and that is WHY they totally and completely believe their WORTHLESS, LYING ?SÛCKING CRIMNAL GOVERNMENT.
Americans they are so DUMB and COMPLACENT that they believe Anything this Lying Government tells them with ZERO Question’s Ever.
And it will be the DEATH OF THEM AS WELL AS THEIR FAMILIES.
I see the headline, but I’m not seeing any actual evidence in the article of residents being “told” their children could be taken away. Am I missing it?
A Town Hall meeting with ENOUGH turnout would change that !! This is TOTAL BULL that the government could stoop to such a level… THIS IS CRIMINAL ACTIONS TAKEN BY THE CITY…. !!!
What are they doing in schools, restaurants– jails?
As much as I see the logic behind decentralizing water distribution, I can’t help but feel like if water were to be commercialized it would leave us in a potentially worse position down the road.
Unbelievable. America is the laughing stock of the world, talk about stupidity. Land of the free, home of the brave, America is anything but.
“Meanwhile, residents are still left to purchase bottled water on their own, in addition to paying their water bill.”
Ah, one problem with this. Water is billed according to usage. If the residents aren’t using the water, then they won’t be billed for it. What the residents are saying is that they don’t want to have to pay for the ‘poisoned’ water that they ‘used’.
The solution here is that the residents are required by law to pay ‘for the water they used’.
The process then is that if the water they used is contaminated, they get to sue the city for damages. That is the process they are required to follow.
Simply trying to get to use the water for free and not paying for it isn’t how it works.
Do you really think the same corrupt people who incurred the damage by way of contaminated water are going to turn around and admit guilt and pay for their actions?
Especially with the corrupt courts to back them they will just double down on the lying.
Who will stop them when they all lie for each other?
Would the author care to explain this statement?
“This crisis highlights the many dangers of allowing the government to
maintain a monopoly on the water supply and calls attention to the fact
that decentralized solutions to water distribution should be a goal that
we start working towards.”
Absent everyone going back to private wells – how do you get decentralized water distribution?
The problem is not that water distribution is a monopoly. The problem is corruption and incompetency. Which is rampant all over the country these days.
Total garbage…
Always shininginthedark
Another thing Obama built
Better to be thought a fool, than to open your mouth & remove all doubt.
Too late.
The rest of the world has abandoned fluoridating their water, due to all of the serious health risks and lack of dental benefits. But GENIUS JOSHUA knows better, because he was paying attention when he went to his government school.
Typically, water is the cheapest utility of most homeowners, so for a Government to threatening to foreclose on these homes, are you serious??? Even banks will let homeowners default on their payments for 8 to 12 months before going down that rat hole. So the money spent to start the foreclosing process on these home would be more than the several years of non payment. It’s not like Michigan is a wealthy and thriving state now, thanks to the same government who help move jobs from that area.
“This crisis highlights the many dangers of allowing the government to maintain a monopoly on the water supply and calls attention to the fact that decentralized solutions to water distribution should be a goal that we start working towards.”
And there you have the REAL motive of a Republican governor. This is what they ultimately want by any means necessary. I am losing my faith in humanity. This is supposed to be America. “The greatest nation on Earth.” Bullshit.
The irony is the cost to fix the problem is the same cost Jeb Bush has spent on his campaign with the result being 2%. At this point we must ask our leaders where their priorities are. If Jeb wanted to fix the problems of this nation he could have started by donating the rest of his campaign contributions to Flint. But no, Republican politicians only use their money for their own agendas for personal power.
No it doesn’t… by product of aluminum industry… costs millions to dispose of …one study in Texas.. and now they can put 1.5parts per million in the h2o…been used in horse training to control the will of horses..and when it first came out in toothpaste it had a skull &crossbones on it…..look up countries with no flouride… navy also..no flouride… sodium aluminum flouride…. mild flouroses…on teeth..do the research.. and give ur fam steam distilled ….ur welcome.!
..
Those in charge should be arrested and thrown into jail period. This is a Republic for the people by the people. The harm is already done. This was going on for how long, and covered up. Get an attorney and start the checks and balances going. People have to be accountable for this. Just like the fluoride in the water supplies is an industrial waste product from manufacturing company’s. Instead of company’s being charged for disposal of this waste by product it’s introduced at a cost to all the water company’s for a profit. Another incident in OHIO, DAH. Wake up.
Your the idiot. Not knowing about the flouride is sad. Better get educated! But why does that back of your toothpaste say to call the poison control center, if you swallow more than the pea size your supposed to only use on your toothbrush? I bet your an Obummer supporter.
Actually, Joshua…fluoride does NOT protect your teeth. The aluminum industry had this by-product of aluminum that they didn’t know what to do with it so they marketed it as a protector for teeth. It does no such thing. Looks like you drank the Kool-Aid. You might want to buy organic toothpaste and, when you go to the dentist, tell him/her to not treat your teeth with fluoride:) It is a neurotoxin.
According to her comment history, Joan was into Trump until he declared that he wanted to close the internet. It was okay when he was threatening the Mexicans and the Muslims, but when Joan’s ability to fearmonger on Disqus was (unrealistically) threatened, she claims he lost her vote.
ANYBODY Would Rather be a “Trump Supporter” then an EXTREMELY DUMB LIBTARD AKA:Dumbass Sheeple like YOURSELF, That really thinks Fluoride is in the water for your teeth.
Sounds like you think the Fluoride that’s in toothpaste is for healty skin and bones too. LMFAO…
Do the Entire WORLD a Favor and KILL YOURSELF NOW!
joshua
wait a minute, I’ve attached a picture for you man. read the labels -toxic to ingest? um, and you are ok with drinking this for your teeth. right.
– so please explain to me, when they put fluoride in water, just how do you know just what the dose is per glass?
how much you get daily? you brush twice daily and drink a few glasses of water I’m sure you *must* know your own intake of this drug…
and why is that bag it comes in labeled poison when transported in to the water processing centers before it’s dumped in to the city water?
oh and what country first found it makes populations docile? (Germany pre WW2).
why is it in baby water?
why were children in the 90’s given fluoride tablets at schools?
what’s the proper dosing for a child?
what happens to people who drink fluoride water for more then a year?
I like my teeth too, I don’t care all that much for Trump but he’s miles ahead of Hillary who should be in prison over her handling of classified documents via email.
here is what I understand someone is putting a drug in the water supply, and you don’t get to question that or make a choice because they do it secretly, and quietly.
other countries found it causes cancer, and have determined it harmful to their citizens.
IF this was happening in a third world country, holier than thou America will be up in arms and its people will be talking about how it’s great to be in America. I work for a UN agency so I travel a lot. I’ve never never heard of such blatant human rights abuse even in those so called 3rd world countries.
Take away children for non payment of water bill? What happened to just turning off the water. I’m surprised no one has been arrested for this and Congress is not doing anything about it either. All they know is the freaking Benghazi.