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Related: Editorials & Other Articles, Issue Forums, Alliance Forums, Region ForumsThe Private Sector Is Now Providing Basic Services to Flint
http://www.theatlantic.com/politics/archive/2016/01/flint-water-crisis-walmart/427062/A coalition of some of Americas biggest companies is organizing a trucklift for Flint, promising to deliver 6.5 million bottles of water to the city in order to provide clean drinking water for schoolchildren through 2016. Walmart, Coca-Cola, Nestlé, and PepsiCo say they will deliver 6.5 million bottles to Flint, enough for the citys 10,000 students.
In October, testing found toxic levels of lead in the water at Flints schools. The whole city is grappling with the malign effects of a switch from water provided by the Detroit system to water from the Flint River, which helped corrode the citys pipes and leach lead into drinking waterin addition to turning the water a putrid brown. The state and federal governments have both declared states of emergency.
That these firms are stepping up to deliver water is good news for Flints schools and citizens in the immediate term. But a one-time infusion of gallons of fresh water doesnt do much to address the systemic failures of government that led to the water crisis in the first place. By making four for-profit corporations into a de facto public utility, the gift might actually risk making things worse in the long run.
The corporate giants arent the first to donate water. Everyone from churches to presidential campaigns to, uh, Marky Mark and Diddy have chipped in bottles. The state of Michigan has also begun to provide bottled water, as well as filters. Meanwhile, Michigan Attorney General Bill Schuette is blasting the city for continuing to charge residents for the water they use, even though they cant safely drink it. In 2014, the average monthly bill was $140 a month.
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ALEC and Koch Bros. for the win....
yup
Ed Suspicious
(8,879 posts)Kip Humphrey
(4,753 posts)Mika
(17,751 posts)SickOfTheOnePct
(7,290 posts)Sorry, I don't see anything wrong with this.
Of course the systemic failures that caused this issue in the first place need to be addressed and fixed, but in the meantime, these people need clean water. I see no problem with private companies providing it.
Mika
(17,751 posts)The repukes have taken down yet another city with their destructive policies.
Just where the f*ck is FEMA?
SickOfTheOnePct
(7,290 posts)FEMA declined to assist - not sure if that is true or not.
But whatever reason they aren't there, they aren't there, and the people need clean water.
Isn't it better that companies provide it than they do without?
Mika
(17,751 posts)It's the "for whatever reason they aren't there" that is VERY bothersome.
Republicans ... destroying America one day, one city, one social safety net at a time.
SickOfTheOnePct
(7,290 posts)Mika
(17,751 posts)SickOfTheOnePct
(7,290 posts)Mika
(17,751 posts)SickOfTheOnePct
(7,290 posts)According to this article, they will provide water, filters, etc., for up to 90 days.
Mika
(17,751 posts)The only assets that FEMA has are bureaucrats. When an emergency occurs, the clerks and jerks in FEMA are given mountains of US government money. FEMA uses the money to hire contractors to do any work that must be done.
Bradical79
(4,490 posts)The problem is what having to rely on water from these companies means. It's not so much "wrong" as it is disturbing.
Why has the government failed at every level to adequately help the people of Flint? That's something that needs answered and fixed. And a city having to rely on donations from largely uncaring private corporations is not a good situation. Corporations like Nestlé aren't exactly in the habit of doing things just out of kindness. They rely on child slave labor while bottling water taken from a region that has its own water shortage problem.