Flint Residents Told That Their Children Could Be Taken Away If They Don’t Pay For City’s Water

[ariesgem]

Not only is the Michigan government poisoning residents, but now they are threatening to take their children for not paying for it.

Flint, MI – As the water crisis in Flint deepens, it is becoming apparent that the effects of the lead-infested water are not just a health hazard, but the situation has the potential of ruining many more lives outside of the poison issue. There is no denying that the water in Flint is undrinkable and that it is contaminated with lead and other substances, and it is clear that the government of Flint is responsible for the problem.

However, the city’s government continues to charge people for the poison water and then threatening to foreclose their home or take their children if they refuse to pay. Michigan law states that parents are neglectful if they do not have running water in their home, and if they chose not to pay for water they can’t drink anyway, then they could be guilty of child endangerment. Activists in Flint say that some residents have already received similar threats from the government if they refuse to pay their bills.

Flint residents have recently filed two class action lawsuits calling for all water bills since April of 2014 to be considered null and void because of the fact that the water was poisonous.

“We are seeking for the court to declare that all the bills that have been issued for usage of water invalid because the water has not been fit for its intended purpose,” said Trachelle Young, one of the attorneys bringing the lawsuit said in court.

“Essentially, the residents have been getting billed for water that they cannot use. Because of that, we do not feel that is a fair way to treat the residents,” Young added.

Read more at http://thefreethoughtproject.com/flint-residents-told-children-pay-citys-poison-water/#kK2dH01bfC4UvLlY.99

[RKP5637]

1. What a F'en bizarre place! To me, some of TPTB should be serving hard time! n/t

[ChisolmTrailDem]

4. The Powers That Be. nt

[The Wielding Truth]

18. It also shows that today's Republicans should be no where near any kind of political power.

[Faux pas]

2. They've got some nerve!

The whole 'governing' body there needs to go (straight to hell)!

[Octafish]

6. Don't blame Flint: Michigan governor appointed an Emergency Manager to lord over things.

Rick Snyder, who'd be wearing ID badges including those issued by Dick DeVos, the Koch Brothers, and Karl Rove were there wearable justice.

[Faux pas]

7. I was meaning snyder and

all his minions. What they're doing is not democracy.

[Octafish]

8. Sorry! GOP acid reflux.

Michigan's then-GOP Gov John "The Sphincter" Engler signed the foul thing into law.

He's been doing magic for the Business Roundtable, a group that's done wonders on behalf of corporate fascism for decades in Washington.

[Faux pas]

12. Aha

got it thanks!

[navarth]

17. Fucking Engler

that mother fucker. We're still suffering from the damage that asshole did.

Remember the huge emergency fund that Jim Blanchard built up for our state, Octafish? As I remember it, that fucking Engler spent it all on tax breaks for the wealthy and let Granholm handle the consequences.

Snyder's just a johnny-come-lately.

I don't know what it's going to take to get these doofuses around this state to start voting for their own interests.

[Act_of_Reparation]

33. Redistricting would be a good start.

This state's so fucking gerrymandered, it's embarrassing.

[Octafish]

54. Alex Carey: Corporations and Propaganda -- The Attack on Democracy

The sociologist chronicled how the Business Roundtable and the right were key in the rise of the propaganda machine in the 20th century. Except from, Maria Galardin's TUC (Time of Useful Consciousness) Radio:

Alex Carey: Corporations and Propaganda
The Attack on Democracy


The 20th century, said Carey, is marked by three historic developments: the growth of democracy via the expansion of the franchise, the growth of corporations, and the growth of propaganda to protect corporations from democracy. Carey wrote that the people of the US have been subjected to an unparalleled, expensive, 3/4 century long propaganda effort designed to expand corporate rights by undermining democracy and destroying the unions. And, in his manuscript, unpublished during his life time, he described that history, going back to World War I and ending with the Reagan era. Carey covers the little known role of the US Chamber of Commerce in the McCarthy witch hunts of post WWII and shows how the continued campaign against "Big Government" plays an important role in bringing Reagan to power.

John Pilger called Carey "a second Orwell", Noam Chomsky dedicated his book, Manufacturing Consent, to him. And even though TUC Radio runs our documentary based on Carey's manuscript at least every two years and draws a huge response each time, Alex Carey is still unknown.

Given today's spotlight on corporations that may change. It is not only the Occupy movement that inspired me to present this program again at this time. By an amazing historic coincidence Bill Moyers and Charlie Cray of Greenpeace have just added the missing chapter to Carey's analysis. Carey's manuscript ends in 1988 when he committed suicide. Moyers and Cray begin with 1971 and bring the corporate propaganda project up to date.

This is a fairly complex production with many voices, historic sound clips, and source material. The program has been used by writers and students of history and propaganda. Alex Carey: Taking the Risk out of Democracy, Corporate Propaganda VS Freedom and Liberty with a foreword by Noam Chomsky was published by the University of Illinois Press in 1995.

SOURCE: http://tucradio.org/new.html

If you find a moment, here's the first part (scroll down at the link for the second part) on Carey.

http://tucradio.org/AlexCarey_ONE.mp3

Helps explain how we got here and what we need to do to move forward, starting with putting the "Public" into Airwaves again. Like our friend who was at Wayne. She's currently out of town -- mom is very ill -- will ask her what her plans are for telling her story on the EM law.

[niyad]

62. no, they need to go to jail.

[Octafish]

5. Mass murder. Mass poisoning. Mass kidnapping.

Government of the Wealthy, for the Wealthy, and by the Wealthy.

[tecelote]

9. So, if they take the kids away does anyone profit?

There is a reason juvi homes and prisons should be a burden to society.

No one should profit from the misfortunes of others.

[DhhD]

44. Where would the children go? To a house where poision water is also present? How could

such a home be approved for Foster Care? My what a mess.

[intersectionality]

46. I'm sure the Emergency Manager rubberstamps the foster care homes, too.

nt

[ValasHune]

10. Just leave

Move away ...get out now. Fuck Flint, Michigan.

[navarth]

19. You are incorrect

Blaming what the Repig government is doing to our state should be different from blaming the state. Or Flint. Flint deserves better than to be told this kind of thing. I urge you to re-evaluate.

[NurseJackie]

24. An understandable sentiment, but moving is an expensive proposition...

... many can't afford to move. Will there be a new job waiting for them at their chosen destination? Will they be able to find a home or apartment? Will they be able to afford first/last/deposit? Will they be able to secure a new mortgage? Will they be able to sell their current home? Will their current home be worth anything? Who'd buy it? Will caregivers abandon their semi-independent-living parents, or bring them along too? Do those relying on public transportation actually have a vehicle to make the move to another location? Will the new location have public transportation?

Move away ...get out now.

Often easier said than done. That's true for those who have the means to leave at a moment's notice. For those who don't have the means, cash, time, transportation, transferable job skills... looks like they're in a much tougher situation.

[JustAnotherGen]

76. +100

All well said!

[Blue_Adept]

51. Even more reasons

"Flint residents are barred from selling their homes and moving their families bc it is illegal to sell with a known lead or copper issue."

"It is estimated that the #FlintWaterCrisis will take at least 15 years to resolve. That means homeowners are hostage for at least that long."

[niyad]

63. welcome to du. how, exactly, do you propose that the victims in flint do this, since such a

large percentage of them live below the poverty line?

[ChisolmTrailDem]

69. Hit and runner. nt

[niyad]

70. apparently so.

[malaise]

11. When will the Feds arrest this criminal??? n/t

[daleanime]

29. +1

[questionseverything]

60. that is what i would like to know n/t

[niyad]

67. never

[HughBeaumont]

78. Pfffffffttt. Repigs only get in trouble if they screw rich people.

This sort of thing is a detail of the agenda.

[marble falls]

13. What are they looking for: torches and pitchforks? Somebody has to ...

pay for the poisoning of Flint residents. I know: the victims.

[JonathanRackham]

20. Just dunk the parties responsible in the water.

Justifiable water boarding for city officials, health department and water authority people.

Why corrode good pitchforks?

[marble falls]

22. Make them drink one quart per day until they fix it.

[Snotcicles]

14. Why are people paying for water from the great lakes? shouldn't water be a public utility? nt

[former9thward]

31. Everyone everywhere pays for water.

It is not free.

[Snotcicles]

36. I think it should be paid for by taxation and income adjusted. People can't live without water. nt

[Doremus]

42. Many corporations pay little or no tax but consume the most water.

IIRC, here in Ohio a couple of years ago a state congressman who happens to own a water bottling company was on the verge of getting a sweetheart deal for FREE water from Lake Erie, unlimited quantity. When it hit the news the governor quickly backed out.

If my recollection is incorrect hopefully someone will come along and correct me.

I understand the point you're making but I think there would need to be a distinction between water for life vs. for profit.

[Snotcicles]

48. I wasn't trying to put that fine of a point on it. nt

[Doremus]

71. The devil's in the details. nt

[Igel]

58. Because there are expenses. And it is.

First, water is typically a public utility. It is in Flint. "Public" does not mean "paid for entirely by taxpayers." But rates are, no doubt, regulated, and if the emergency manager could make decisions for it it means that it was public.


Flint water is from a river. Small distinction, but that's basically the problem. Rivers often have higher Cl- levels than the Great Lakes do. Esp. those that are urban, and have to contend with salt run-off.

Nonetheless, if you want Great Lakes water it's easy to get. Go to the lake (or the river) and merely fill a bucket. Otherwise you need to pay for treatment, pipes, equipment, employees, etc., etc. Think of it as a non-means-tested consumption tax.

[abelenkpe]

15. Pay us for the poison you've been drinking or we'll take your poisoned children.

What? Are they channelling Ebenezer Scrooge?

[JonathanRackham]

16. I hope the ACLU gets a call.

[Scalded Nun]

21. Beside any class action suits

I'd like to see each of the Flint residents (or those required to pay for the water) to file criminal complaints. This was a conscious decision taken by officials (going all the way up to the Gov) and resulted in their poisoning. Unintended (being generous here as those in power were warned) consequences do not get you off the hook. If I drive down the wrong way on a one-way street because I am in a hurry, and I hit and kill someone, I am criminally responsible. I did not want to kill anyone, but my wrongful actions resulted in that death.
Flood the system with those complaints. Maybe inmates do not have to drink city water, so it will not be so bad for them.

It might be a stretch, but then it might be worth the time.

It certainly is no more outrageous than making the victims pay to be poisoned.

[Spitfire of ATJ]

23. This is when I start to believe in firing squads.

[surrealAmerican]

25. Are the residents organized?

... because, if one family refuses to pay, the city will foreclose. If 80% of households refuse to pay, it's a whole different story.

... not to mention how sick and wrong it is to hold children hostage for unpaid bills, regardless of the reason.

[closeupready]

26. This is the kind of thing that could NEVER be the plot of a work of fiction;

it has to actually HAPPEN, in real life, or else nobody could ever believe that any jurisdiction or governor in the USA would get away with such abominable behavior.

[captainarizona]

27. speaking of child endangerment

Why hasn't gov. snyder been arrested for child endangerment along with his underlings? where is the federal government are they to busy in oregon explaining why they are doing nothing there too! At last count 10 people have died in flint from legionnaires disease from the polluted water and that is murder.

[DonCoquixote]

28. this is the goal of the GOP

To force you to buy something that they knowingly made toxic, that way, either way, they have your money and your corpse, it';s a win win.

[lapfog_1]

32. love canal writ large

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Love_Canal

There are some 52,000 homes in Flint.

We are likely going to have to relocate (if the water cannot be fixed) all of them

Total cost of this disaster is going to be $10 B to $20 B to pay for everything.

Might be less to change the water supply back to the lake and rip out every water pipe from the lake intake to the faucet in every home (the corrosive material has eroded the old lead welds in the pipes to the point where simply changing the water probably doesn't stop the contamination).

Replacing all of the pipes would take years... and I wouldn't bathe in the water they have now, nor would I let any children bathe in it... that water is too corrosive to wash metal engines for cars (so GM says)... probably not safe for people either.

They are all going to have to move away and the government is going to have to buy their homes and businesses and pay relocation costs.

Of course.... even if it is $20 B... that's only 1 percent of the cost of the Iraq war.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Financial_cost_of_the_Iraq_War

Thanks again Republicans!!!

[robbob]

34. The tax payers will foot the bill

And those who caused and then covered up the problem will walk away Scot free.

[sylvanus]

35. Wait, didn't we do this to Native Americans,

African Slaves in the americas, and Aboriginal people in Australia.
When did we declare a genocidal war on Michigan, did I miss something?

[tclambert]

45. Gov. Snyder ordered a truckload of smallpox infected blankets to hand out in Flint,

but somebody washed them before they could distribute them. So, they had to go with plan B.

[Mendocino]

37. Public shakedown

...Pay us for this worthless and hazardous product or we will steal your children....

The RW government of Michigan is complicit in this from the top down. Snyder's ultimate goal may have been to privatize water districts statewide starting with Detroit and Flint.

[blackspade]

38. Unconscionable.

What worms are sending these letters?
Are they soulless?

[niyad]

68. are they soulless? yes, of course.

[Cleita]

39. Really? And whose gestapo are they hiring to do this?

Frankly, I think the Feds need to go in and take over the State of Michigan. They have become a rogue state under Republican leadership and need some real leadership to get back on track. I'd start with the Guv himself first and all the way down to all the unelected and appointed managers whose incompetence have made this mess.

[Tab]

40. Why, because they're failing to provide fresh water?

What horrible parents! Oh, wait...

[SoapBox]

41. What???

[tclambert]

43. So if a gas main springs a leak and your house explodes, you should pay for the gas

burned up in the explosion and ensuing fire. Because profit.

[world wide wally]

47. The American Dream...

Right, Republican voters?

[Initech]

49. This is just plain fucking evil.

Seriously if I had won that Powerball I'd donate money to Flint so their residents didn't have to pay for poison.

[Blue_Adept]

50. Also worth noting:

"Flint residents are barred from selling their homes and moving their families bc it is illegal to sell with a known lead or copper issue."

"It is estimated that the #FlintWaterCrisis will take at least 15 years to resolve. That means homeowners are hostage for at least that long."

[romanic]

56. Read about that earlier.

The people of Flint are being taken for hostage in their own city. Makes me really angry that this is happening in my state of all places. :mad

[Liberal_in_LA]

52. Unbelievable!

[Ilsa]

53. The real message to residents: "MOVE AWAY"

The real nessage to residents with this latest maneuver is "move away; we don't want poor people here that can't afford to pay to upgrade the plumbing. We don't want your kind here, especially if you're smart enough to organize and sue us for breach of fiduciary duty."

[moondust]

61. Or..."DIE QUICKLY"

A number of red states seem to be using the "MOVE AWAY OR DIE QUICKLY" strategy in trying to get rid of their less-than-wealthy and turn their states into havens for the rich who don't want to pay taxes. 22 states have refused to expand Medicaid. I wonder if it was Snyder who thought of poisoning the water supply and making them pay for it?

[3catwoman3]

55. It could be said that by poisoning...

...their vulnerable young brains with lead, the scumbags who did this have already taken away the children of Flint.

[niyad]

66. sadly, you are quite correct.

[Odin2005]

57. I have no words for this bullshit...

[niyad]

65. oh, I have plenty of words, most of which would probably get me a visit from the suits.

[yuiyoshida]

59. OH FOR SURE, DO THAT...Want to see Flint burn to the ground?

Keep pushing poor people around, and you will see Flint burn to the ground, and heads will roll in their city government, ...talk about asking for the people with pitch forks to come....get on with your bad ass attitude and see what happens.

[niyad]

64. and, of course, the corporate media covers none of this.

[HeiressofBickworth]

72. Being the bitchy skeptic that I am

I'm wondering what the end-game is. Did the Gov and the EM get together and say, let's get rid of these poor people, take their land (they can't sell it anyway because of the lead) and give it to our largest political donor who will ??? do what with it? What exactly do they envision the future of Flint to be? Some lovely up-scale river-side condos with all new water lines, a new stadium for a pro-ball team, enlarging a car manufacturer? Just what is the value of the real estate these poisoned people are sitting on if residential zoning is removed. I'm assuming that the wealthier neighborhoods of Flint already have safe water lines otherwise, there would be very loud demands from them. So we're talking about the poor neighborhoods that haven't been upgraded in 75 years or so and who have no political power.

On the humanitarian side, just where do they think these people are going to go? What neighboring community could absorb all those people. Or are they counting on the poisoning to reduce the number of people they have to deal with?

Inquiring minds want to know.

[Monk06]

73. So which Mafia family is running Flint. That's a clear case of extortion and racketeering

[Aerows]

75. Wave firearms

Oh wait, some people are doing that now.

I believe in them more than the Talibanjo.

[JonathanRackham]

77. Is Flint the next Love Canal?

This time government orchestrated?