Understanding the Flint Water Crisis

Sep 7, 2024

Flint Water Crisis: An Examination

Overview

  • Discussion of the Flint Water Crisis, as detailed in the book "We the Poisoned".
  • Historical context: Flint, once a booming city in the 1950s and 60s.
  • Economic decline due to offshoring, deregulation, and local factors (e.g., white flight).
  • Result: Flint became economically devastated by the early 2000s.

Key Events Leading to the Crisis

  • Governor Rick Snyder declared a financial emergency and appointed emergency managers.
  • Push to privatize/regionalize the water system, moving Flint away from Detroit's water system.
  • Decision to use the Flint River temporarily while building a new, unnecessary water system.

Financial and Political Maneuvering

  • Flint created a financial emergency to borrow $100 million to fund the new water system.
  • The goal was to create a privatized water system for business, not residential use.
  • Economic factors and political corruption played major roles.

Government Actions and Inactions

  • Emergency managers had more power than elected officials, effectively removing democracy.
  • Warnings ignored:
    • Governor Snyder was warned about the unsafe nature of Flint River water.
    • EPA was aware early on but took no emergency action.
    • Local officials and plant workers raised concerns about the water plant's capacity.

Impact on Flint Residents

  • 18 months of using contaminated water led to severe health issues:
    • Legionnaires’ disease outbreak.
    • Lead poisoning in children.
    • Increase in cancer, liver, and kidney problems.
    • Long-term cognitive and behavioral issues among residents.
    • Minimal federal and state aid, with ongoing health and financial struggles.

Federal Government's Role

  • EPA failed to intervene despite early knowledge.
  • Obama's visit to Flint, where he drank water, was seen as dismissive.
  • EPA and federal agencies failed to take decisive action.

Broader Implications and Ongoing Issues

  • The crisis is viewed as a large-scale government cover-up involving state and federal levels.
  • The ongoing impact of the crisis on Flint is likened to a "slow-moving genocide".
  • Calls for accountability and reparations for Flint residents.

Discussion and Further Resources

  • Additional discussion and interviews available on Substack.
  • Upcoming talks and events to further discuss the book and the crisis.

For more details and personal accounts, refer to the book "We the Poisoned" and follow ongoing discussions on relevant platforms.