Flint Municipal water 89

[moon161]

So, Flint has been MI lead poisoned and exposed to legionella bacteria because the water supply was switched from Detroit municipal to the Flint River. Since the polluted river is corrosive and iron rich, lead was leached from pipes and solder into the water of thousands of homes, and legionella bateria (legionaire's diseased) apparently thrived on the dissolved iron.

It was done to save money, it stayed that way because people who knew of the crisis sat on the information and obstructed inquiry.

http://dailycaller.com/2016/01/14/e...nation-for-months-without-telling-the-public/

http://m.democracynow.org/stories/15874

There HAS to be a (ir)responsible engineer in that chain. What are their duties, did they fail to perform? Would whistleblower action have been appropriate?

 

[MacGyverS2000]

So they'll replace the last 50' of a multi-mile system? Yep, that should solve the problem

Dan - Owner

http://www.Hi-TecDesigns.com

 

[bimr]

Regarding "So they'll replace the last 50' of a multi-mile system? Yep, that should solve the problem".

It should end the lead contamination of the public water supply, but will not have much of an effect on the social justices issues.

 

[cranky108]

What social justices issues? Can you explain more? Do I need to pay for problems they votes for?

 

[dik]

Lead is an accumulative toxin and can have long term neurological issues. Maybe a social issue.

Dik

 

[bimr]

Come on man, few terms have become as unmoored from their Catholic origins, and have thus lent themselves to misunderstanding in contemporary discourse, as has the term “social justice.”

Social justice assigns rights and duties in the institutions of society, which enables people to receive the basic benefits and burdens of cooperation. The relevant institutions often include taxation, social insurance, public health, public school, public services, labor law and regulation of markets, to ensure fair distribution of wealth, and equal opportunity.

Don't believe that any of the Flint residents voted for:

poor schools
poor government
poor water quality
poor opportunities

Since Texas is a net taker of federal taxes; perhaps one should think about refunding the difference.

http://www.dallasnews.com/news/loca...ves-more-than-it-gets-from-federal-government

On second thought, it appears that Texas has many of the same problems:

http://www.elpasotimes.com/story/ne...falls-43-national-education-ranking/78519596/

 

[cranky108]

Just because the residents did not vote for poor XXXX, they got it because of who they voted for.

Don't believe the hype, vote them out anyway.

 

[HamburgerHelper]

Texas only has great and terrible schools. There really is not a lot in between. The schooling districts play a huge role in determining the real estate valuations because of that. A good school probably adds $30 per sf. I feel bad whenever a zone gets shifted and someone loses significant value off of their house.

 

[Spartan5]

Just because the residents did not vote for poor XXXX, they got it because of who they voted for.

Don't believe the hype, vote them out anyway.

It doesn't quite work that way. The other guy could've just easily given it to them harder.

 

[bimr]

Texas has problems with at least 3 out of 4 of these issues:

poor schools
poor government
poor water quality
poor opportunities

Yet, no one seems to be clamoring to get rid of the TX incumbents.

 

[SwinnyGG]

Comparing the economic environment of Texas as a whole to Flint, MI is a pretty hilariously bad analogy.

 

[bimr]

Nobody is comparing the economic environment of Texas as a whole to Flint.

The gentleman from Texas appears to be disparaging the people that live in Michigan, while at the same time overlooking many of the same problems in his own backyard. Afterall, Texas is just another red taker state dependent on the federal government.

https://www.theatlantic.com/busines...tates-are-givers-and-which-are-takers/361668/

 

[cranky108]

Red taker? Like the West coast is a bunch of Blue takers?

What does the political leanings of a state matter about who is a taker or not?

 

[SwinnyGG]

They don't, really. Bimr has a very clear political stance, and problems in this particular state appear to indicate to him that it's soapbox time.

 

[JohnRBaker]

It's not political, it's statistical. That's just the way the numbers come out.

That being said, it's still ironic that most of the so-called 'taker' states consistently vote Republican and/or have Republican-controlled state houses and legislatures. And you can bet that if these statistics were reversed, that we would be hearing no end of this from the Right-wing media.

John R. Baker, P.E. (ret)
EX-Product 'Evangelist'
Irvine, CA
Siemens PLM:
UG/NX Museum:

The secret of life is not finding someone to live with
It's finding someone you can't live without

 

[SwinnyGG]

From that very article:

Part of the explanation for why southern states dominate the “most dependent” category is historical. During the many decades in the 20th century when the South was solidly Democratic, its congressional representatives in both the House and the Senate, enjoying great seniority, came to hold leadership positions on powerful committees, which they used to send federal dollars back to their home states in the form of contracts, projects, installations.

So, as usual, it simply isn't that cut-and-dry.

 

[cranky108]

The issue with takers is, that we as voters allow it.

The truth is the greed in both parties is part of the problem. The special interests is another part.

Not that I like Bernie, but his approach to funding his election does deserve some good comments. But on the other hand so did Trumps.
Both approaches did take some special interest money out of the last election.

As for local elections, it seems strange that a week away from the election, all these TV ads started showing up, with several being very bitter.

 

[bimr]

cranky108: Regarding "Like the West coast is a bunch of Blue takers?"

If you look at the list, note that the West Coast is a Giver, not a Taker. The list outlines the hypocritical methods of the red state politicians. Complain about the federal government while taking the benefits.

 

[bimr]

jgKRI: Regarding "So, as usual, it simply isn't that cut-and-dry."

It is more logical than you suspect. Another part of the equation is that the southern states have refused to fund education. Education is an investment in the people. If you don't invest in the people, you should not expect an economic return either. The lack of education funding leads to the poor economic outlook in the southern states and the high crime rates.

Now you have politicians like Walker, Snyder, Brownback, and their ilk actively working to defund education and turning their states into the Mississippi's of the north.

https://www.washingtonpost.com/news...ecretary-of-education/?utm_term=.4edd22bc9a89

"Engler whipped the state Legislature into action, and in the course of a 24-hour period, the Senate and House eradicated property taxes—in the process completely defunding Michigan’s $6.5 billion public-education system."

http://www.politico.com/magazine/st...amily-amway-michigan-politics-religion-214631

If understanding what is going on means I have an "agenda", so be it.

 

[cranky108]

So you are saying the state should invest in education. What would happen if people invested there own money in there children's education, and not expecting the state to do so? Maybe our taxes would go down, and the quality of education would go up.

After all, they are your children, and why should I be required to pay for their education (cheep *** *******).

And before you ask, no my child does not go to public school, and I get no rebate on my taxes for that.

 

[canwesteng]

So the children of poor families shouldn't be allowed to attend school then?