Back in 2014, local city officials appointed by governor Rick Snyder opted to switch Flint’s water supply from the city of Detroit to the Flint River. This might seem as if they were trying to conserve money and energy by exchanging a distant water source to a more local one. Flint water before and afterHowever, that is merely their reasoning. They did not take into account the safeness or cleanliness of the water, that is, there was no corrosion-control chemicals being put into the water. Without this care being taken, poisonous metals, such as lead, washed away into the water. Lead is extremely dangerous for children and pregnant women, but the officials decided to turn a blind eye to this concern. Some water tested so high for lead contaminants that is was “more than twice the amount at which the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency classifies water as hazardous waste.”
Of course, the people of Flint, Michigan are extremely angry at local officials and have demanded immediate action on the crisis at hand. City meetings and protests have long been underway since the beginning. In addition, approximately 9,000 children have been diagnosed with lead poisoning and 10 have died. Presidential candidates Bernie Sanders and Hilary Clinton have let their voice be heard on this issue and attested for the resignation of the Michigan governor Rick Snyder.
However this may be, the government has yet to come up with a solution to this problematic emergency. Of course, we all know that there will always be deadlock on what government spending should go to. It is mostly agreed on putting that money into public insurance programs like Medicare and Social Security. And there will always be debate on whether to put more funds into domestic defense or infrastructure. But isn’t it just common sense to provide the public with basic necessities like a good education system and clean drinking water? After all, every living creature depends on this essential element to survive, making it an intimate and important feat to provide this to American citizens.
In Paul Krugman’s post to the New York Times, Michigan’s Great Stink, he compares this crisis to the 1850s mayhem in London, England. At this time, London still had yet to develop a sewage system, forcing the multitude of citizens excrete their waste into the streets. All of this disgusting-ness flowing into the Thames river, causing the historical event known as ‘The Great Stink.’ But what is significant about this is that, a problem arose and the government of London took action, and almost immediately too. Even though it did increase government spending, they thought it would be best to remedy the public’s general wellbeing. And even today, shouldn’t this be the role of government, to take action when something is plaguing their citizens?
There is one other underlying problem in this whole whirlwind. Many critics have pointed out that Flint, Michigan is a predominately African-American town, with the poverty level at 40 percent. Does this have something to do with the reason there is stalemate in this town? Or should the question be re-phrased to, would this type of situation happen in a predominately white town? It’s hard to image. I’m originally from Connecticut and I grew up in a well-to-do town where whites led the population at 99 percent. Our school district was always at the top of Connecticut charts and I never heard of any crimes occurring in town. However, cities around us with major African-American populations always got the short end of the stick when it came to state government funding. Driving through towns like Middletown, Bridgeport, and New Haven, I could see the difference- especially in the infrastructure.
people. We all need food. We all need water. We all need education. Race and income level should not be a exception. In order for us to be active members of society, our very health and wellbeing has to be put first. And in effect, the government and society will benefit as a whole, thriving as its people thrive. And clean, healthy, drinking water, being one of the most basic units of life, should not have to be a concern of the people.
Tell me what you think in the comments on the whole crisis! Is water an equal concern for people in different parts of the U.S.?