Monday, January 25, 2016

Why is there lead in the water supply in Flint, Michigan? Why are people breaking out in rashes and losing hair? Why was the doctor who sounded the alarm ignored? Most importantly why aren’t criminal charges being brought against the politicos who made the poor decisions for the citizens of this country to create such a unsafe environment for American citizens? It was supposed to be a good decision when the then mayor of Flint, Michigan shut off the water power supply from Detroit. They then began pulling the water from the local Flint River to cut costs. This decision had devastating consequences especially since they did not do enough testing to even see if the water was safe.
Here we are 2 years later and the region is in a state of Federal emergency. President Obama got involved and released 80 Million dollars in aid to Michigan to help Flint fix the contaminated water problem. The National Guard was called into service to distribute thousands of bottled water to communities. Back in April 2014 no one knew about the devastation that was put into action. Why? Why wasn’t the water tested for safety for consumption?   Even then complaints were pouring in about the foul smell and lack of clarity in the water of which were ignored by the local government. Then the mysterious illnesses popped up of severe rashes and swelling of kin around the eyes. Children were experiencing loss of hair. Residents soon were filling up emergency rooms with all kinds of ailments.
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For almost two years complaints from the residents of Flint went unanswered. Why? Why isn’t anyone in government ever held accountable for anything horrible? It took one doctor who narrowed down the problems to the high amount of lead in the contaminated water. Led is a irreversible neurotoxin. Once it is in your body, the damage is done.  Now that sounds like a big lawsuit to me. Who do we sue? The Mayor for his poor decisions? Doctor Mona Hanna-Attisha who is the Director of Pediatric Residency Program at the Hurley Medical Center was one of the first to sound the alarm. Instead of being profusely thankfuzl by the local government of her finding, she was ignored. Who has the nerve to ignore medical professionals when faced with a health crisis?
The doctor was attacked and told that she was wrong and inept researchers. Then the people started to protest. Finally the EPA, The Environmental Protection Agency got involved and they found that Flint didn’t even test the water or treat it with anti-corrosion agents as required by law.  The state officials ignored multiple warnings.  Finally Governor Rick Snyder the Republican resigned with a simple I’m sorry. Apologies don’t mean much when lives are in danger.  It is the betrayal of entire government agencies that leave people in their own home full of fear and mistrust. Why aren’t the people being compensated?

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