Outcast_Searcher wrote:Lore wrote: That river water was even refused by GM since it corroded engine parts.
Wow, if that's the case, talk about a HUGE red flag. If GM considered the water from the river too corrosive for metal parts, that just MIGHT be a hint that it would be an issue for pipes and human health.
And the entire government apparatus at all levels could do nothing about it while many children were poisoned, etc.
So we can all pick our political clown of choice based on our political preferences, but it sure looks like EPIC FAIL for the whole system. Not exactly a ringing endorsement for big government, the "safety" of government oversight, etc.
...the buck does stop with Snyder...
"There was a lot of wishful thinking by which the tax cutters dreamed that they could keep on cutting taxes without having any real consequences," said Charles L. Ballard, an economist at Michigan State University. "But tax cuts of this magnitude, some of which were passed during the first year of Gov. Snyder’s administration, were bound to have real consequences.
Snyder also appointed the emergency managers who signed off on the switch away from Detroit’s water system and the decision to use Flint River water as an interim solution.
Snyder does bear a significant share of the responsibility. His fiscal approach helped set the stage for the water switch that led to the poisoning, and it was his hand-picked emergency managers who implemented the changes. Snyder also oversaw the state environmental and health departments that have come in for sharp criticism for their failures to act quickly and forcefully when the first indications of a problem cropped up.
dohboi wrote:......
"There was a lot of wishful thinking by which the tax cutters dreamed that they could keep on cutting taxes without having any real consequences," said Charles L. Ballard, an economist at Michigan State University. "But tax cuts of this magnitude, some of which were passed during the first year of Gov. Snyder’s administration, were bound to have real consequences.
dohboi wrote:
Interesting that you start by saying that 'there's plenty of blame to go around' then end up putting all of the blame on one city. Do you read what you write, or do you just not mind constantly contradicting yourself??
dohboi wrote: Maybe a visit back to a primary school room ... would be a better use of your time!!??
Everybody is assuming wrongdoing where there in fact may be none.
drwater wrote: It is surprising the EPA didn't get more alarmed about this faster once they did get involved.
Plantagenet wrote:drwater wrote: It is surprising the EPA didn't get more alarmed about this faster once they did get involved.
Yup.
The EPA apparently knew the water was poisoned back in April, but never told the people of Flint. The EPA regional director for Flint the area resigned in January 2016.
January 2015
Detroit’s water system offers to reconnect to Flint, waiving a $4 million connection fee. Three weeks later, Flint’s state-appointed emergency manager, Jerry Ambrose, declines the offer.
FLINT – Michigan Attorney General Bill Schuette today announced that he has charged Michigan Department of Health and Human Services Director Nick Lyon, former Flint Emergency Manager Darnell Earley, former City of Flint Water Department Manager Howard Croft, as well as Michigan Department of Environmental Quality’s Drinking Water Chief Liane Shekter-Smith and Water Supervisor Stephen Busch with involuntary manslaughter related to their alleged failure to act in the Flint Water Crisis.
Lyon, was appointed by Snyder to lead DHHS in April 2015. Lyon becomes the highest-ranking state employee to face criminal charges for his role in the water crisis, moving an investigation by state Attorney General Bill Schuette closer than ever to Gov. Rick Snyder.Lyon said in an email, regarding a tripling of blood lead levels in children after the city switched to river water., ...
"... the lead blood levels seen are not out of the ordinary and are attributable to seasonal fluctuations."
Involuntary manslaughter is punishable by up to 15 years in prison, and/or a $7,500 fine.
In addition to the involuntary manslaughter charges, Schuette also charged Lyon with Misconduct in Office, a felony, subject to 5 years in prison and/or a $10,000 fine.
MDHHS Chief Medical Executive Eden Wells has also been charged with Lying to a Peace Officer and Obstruction of Justice related to an alleged attempt to stop an investigation into the health crisis in Flint and later misleading investigators as to her actions.
Wells was named by Gov. Snyder to be Flint's drinking water public health adviser after the governor acknowledged rising levels of lead and the potential connection between the use of the river and Legionnaires'.
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