Tuesday, January 26, 2016

Shame On Us

Have you been following the situation in Flint and in Detroit? Honestly, I don't get it. We send billions of dollars all over the world, and not all of it for humanitarian purposes, while people in Flint have been drinking water that's poisoning them and several of the schools in Detroit are in such bad shape they look like they need to be condemned. I appreciate that we help other countries, we should be. Every country should reach out to others when in trouble. But I don't understand why the American Government (federal and state) hasn't focused more attention on horrific problems inside our own country.
What's your take?

For more information:
http://edition.cnn.com/2016/01/22/health/flint-water-crisis/index.html

If you want to help:
http://www.nydailynews.com/life-style/water-crisis-flint-michigan-article-1.2506225

For more information:
http://www.cnn.com/2016/01/12/us/detroit-public-schools-sick-outs/index.html

33 comments:

Alex J. Cavanaugh said...

One of the many things that make you wonder. Of course just throwing money at every problem doesn't mean it will go away. Remember giving the banks money way back when?

DEZMOND said...

most of our water here is toxic too and I'm looking forward to growing fins and a third eye soon :)

Valerie-Jael said...

You are so right, same here, schools are sometimes totally neglected. Hugs, Valerie

Stephanie Faris said...

Preach it, sister!!! Does anyone else think maybe we take care of other countries to kiss up to the world in general so that when we need help, other countries will help us? In that sense, it's more about politics! I've heard a lot about Flint and how destitute the area is over the years.

CJ Kennedy said...

And why aren't the officials who let this happen and knew about the toxicity of the water being prosecuted?

Pat Hatt said...

Rather pathetic in every way. They print off money for banks, this, that and the other thing, but can't help their own.

Shady Del Knight said...

Hi, Sandra!

These two depressing situations remind me of another low point in our nation's history - Love Canal. The disaster began to unfold in the mid 50s and went on nearly 25 years before any testing or corrective action was taken. Committees, boards, agencies and organizations established to help and protect citizens are made up of individuals, human beings with flaws. Sometimes individuals with the power to influence outcomes grow complacent and fail to perform their duties. Sometimes politics, greed and corruption are to blame for their inaction. The nation's children, elderly and poor are being neglected and all we seem able to do is cry "Somebody ought to do something." I realize that only a small number of high level officials have the big picture which enables them to understand and justify spending large sums of money to help other countries. For decades people have also wondered why so much money was spent on the space program, the race to get astronauts on the moon and to explore space, while so many more pressing concerns were found here on earth. I suspect that if we could all see the big picture, we wouldn't like what we see.

Ann Bennett said...

Hey, if they just stopped skimming off the top for themselves and friends, they could do better. What happened in Flint, Michigan with the water is terrible.

Sandra Cox said...

Very true, Alex.
You know I don't disagree with bailing the banks out, but while they were bailing I think they should have also been prosecuting.

Sandra Cox said...

Oh, Dez. Do you drink bottled water?

Sandra Cox said...

I don't get it. We seem to be heading backward instead of forward as far as education is concerned.Maybe because the powers that be can afford to send their kids to private schools.

Rhobin said...

Hi Sandra.
There is so much more going on in this situation. I know, I live in Michigan and grew up near Flint when it was a vibrant city. The Flint elected officials sound guilty of the decision, but despite a voter rejection of appointed 'managers' superseding elected officials, the state congress decided to supersede the voter's decision. A manger made this decision. DEQ didn't do it's job. Everyone covered up or dismissed the complaints of Flint's citizens and the doctors in the area. This is a huge mess. A governor appointed manager is in charge of the Detroit's schools, too. I guess the message is for voters to be more aware of just who they are electing.

Sandra Cox said...

Everything comes down to politics doesn't it?

Sandra Cox said...

Exactly, CJ.

Sandra Cox said...

Pathetic's a good word for it, Pat.

Mich said...

I don't get it either, the higher-ups put so much time and money into getting involved in other countries' problems and yet they ignore the issues at home. It's ridiculous.

Sherry Ellis said...

That's a mess in Michigan! I feel bad for all the people who have been drinking contaminated water. The problem needs to get fixed - and in the meantime those people need good water!

Sandra Cox said...

Hi Shady,
I don't remember Love Canal. What happened there?

Birgit said...

This is disgusting and yet it happens time and time again. Shady mentioned the Love Canal and that I remember quite well. Everything became so contaminated due to illegal dumping that most of the residents had to leave their homes and ,I believe, it is still a ghost town. This happened in the late 70's so I am not surprised by Flint because if there is a way to make more money, the government will as well as all the big boys who line their pockets

Shady Del Knight said...

In the early 50s, Niagara Falls, NY, was undergoing a population explosion. The city school district needed to obtain land to build more schools. It acquired a tract from a chemical company and built schools on it, ignoring warnings from the company that the land was not safe for development because there were drums of toxic waste buried in it. Many of the drums were exposed, ruptured and leaked their toxic contents. In the years that followed many children and adults became ill and the community experienced an abnormally high rate of birth defects, miscarriages and mental retardation. Nobody did anything about it for 25 years. Finally, in 1978, a federal state of emergency was declared by President Carter.

anne marie in philly said...

funny how we can support terrorist countries with our (yours and mine) money, but not take care of our own citizens...

Sandra Cox said...

Isn't that insane? Why did the chemical co sell it and why did the city buy it if they both knew there would be horrible ramifications? Rhetorical question.

Sandra Cox said...

Politicians sure seem to be on the buddy system don't they?

Sandra Cox said...

What a horrific mess. You are so right about being aware who you vote for. I'm not thrilled with our governor nor did I vote for him.

Sandra Cox said...

I agree. It makes no sense.

Sandra Cox said...

Isn't that the truth? Can you imagine raising your kids there?

Sandra Cox said...

It amazes me that it never ends.

Adam said...

Ricky Snyder should be in prison along with a lot of Republican politicians.

“Now, there's one thing you might have noticed I don't complain about: politicians. Everybody complains about politicians. Everybody says they suck. Well, where do people think these politicians come from? They don't fall out of the sky. They don't pass through a membrane from another reality. They come from American parents and American families, American homes, American schools, American churches, American businesses and American universities, and they are elected by American citizens. This is the best we can do folks. This is what we have to offer. It's what our system produces: Garbage in, garbage out. If you have selfish, ignorant citizens, you're going to get selfish, ignorant leaders. Term limits ain't going to do any good; you're just going to end up with a brand new bunch of selfish, ignorant Americans. So, maybe, maybe, maybe, it's not the politicians who suck. Maybe something else sucks around here... like, the public. Yeah, the public sucks. There's a nice campaign slogan for somebody: 'The Public Sucks. F*ck Hope.” -George Carlin

nashvillecats2 said...

How awful ! you have highlighted some of the not so nice things in this world.
Yvonne.

Sandra Cox said...

Yes he should.

Sandra Cox said...

It is distressful.

BB said...

It's just criminal. Those in charge should be prosecuted for doing this to innocent people and children. It could be years before we know the full extent of the damage that drinking that water has done to those children. Makes me furious.

Sandra Cox said...

I agree, Barb.