It’s been nearly two years since the residents of Flint, Michigan were first exposed to highly polluted tap water. The financially insecure city switched its water supply from Lake Huron to the Flint River, which saved the city millions of dollars. However, residents of Flint immediately started complaining about the color and foul taste of the water, but those complaints fell on deaf ears and assurances that the water was safe.
In reality the water was loaded with high levels of lead, likely caused by corrosion of old lead pipes. Once the truth was impossible to ignore, Governor Rick Snyder was quick to apologize and asked FEMA to distribute clean water to Flint. In an effort to provide transparency, the governor released 295 pages of emails related to the crisis, (some of them redacted) which don’t paint a pretty for the state government.
The emails reveal that government officials were completely dismissive of the countless complaints that were made against the tap water. Members of Snyder’s administration mocked residents who complained, saying that they were merely whining about the “aesthetics” of the water and played off their concerns as “initial hiccups.” The governor’s chief of staff said in one email “I can’t figure out why the state is responsible except that [State Treasurer] Dillon did make the ultimate decision so we’re not able to avoid the subject.”
Moreover, the emails also reveal that state officials thought these complaints were politically motivated, and came from an “anti-everything” group which was using their children as a “political football.” Most damning of all, was an email from an EPA official who claimed “the state was testing the water in a way that could profoundly understate the lead levels.” In other words, state officials were well aware of the dangers, completely dismissive of residents who complained about those dangers, and they tried to cover it all up.
Joshua Krause is a reporter, writer and researcher at The Daily Sheeple. He was born and raised in the Bay Area and is a freelance writer and author. You can follow Joshua’s reports at Facebook or on his personal Twitter. Joshua’s website is Strange Danger.
Just how long has that water been that dirty.?? When was the last time that the water was tested.??? When was the last time that the report was given to the people.??? HOw many individuals asked for a report on the water and did they get it.???? YOur childrens health is at stake. Sound like the citiy is trying to put the fault at the peoples feet, Don’t let it happen —-get lawyers.!!!
The EPA could have stopped this immediately. That is their responsibility. I blame the local officials. Were they not drinking the same water.
Oh heck no!….They live in the burbs!
For those who think their government cares about them, this is proof they do not. It is also proof that our government officials have no problem poisoning their own food & water for profits. You see under capitalism, everything is for sale. It’s a system of government concerned with capital, i.e. profits. If you want a different system, then you have to change the system and it won’t change itself. Sadly the sheeple have been conditioned since birth to see life as a spectator sport. Watch TV, play on the Iphone, but don’t do anything physical- don’t read a book, don’t play in the snow, don’t go out dancing, especially don’t go out: might socialize with others and socialization is dangerous cause it could lead to organization.
If you had any doubts about sociopaths running the show in gov/business, this should dispel them. If not, then you are probably one of them.
Forcing Contaminated Water on to the Residents is illegal and unjust. City Officials behind this Financial Dirty Water Contaminated with Lead need be Prosecuted Fired from their Positions now.
The Colorado governor – J. Hickenlooper drank water from the animas river right after the epa caused a huge (still on going) disastrous spill over – they are into denial big time and maybe retarded from drinking that water.
Love how this leftist website slams the Republican gov but says NOTHING abOUT Obamas EPA completely failing and the local Democrat government failing.
Typical liberal garbage, blame everyone except the ones to blame, unless the ones to blame are on the right.
A class action suit against all concerned should be started pronto. Poisoning the population by negligence should mean jail time.