The Flint, Michigan water crisis is far from over. Residents of the city remain angry; little has been done to rectify the problem. Legal measures have been taken by Republican Governor Rick Snyder, and the federal government, but the situation has become stagnant. What is Rick Snyder hiding?
Michigan’s Attorney General, Bill Schuette, claims that his agency has been “stonewalled” by Snyder’s private attorneys, who are receiving a reported 1.2 million dollars of taxpayer money to protect the governor.
“The attorneys with the Department of Attorney General are handling themselves in an exceedingly exceptional fashion,” Schuette said at a round table, according to the Detroit News. “But it’s the governor’s private attorneys who were not providing sufficient information.” Schuette is also a Republican.
This crisis began more than three years ago, while no solution, and no criminal charges have been forthcoming. The truth has been ignored by the Republican-controlled Congress and the media. Insufficient research resulted in a diversion of Flint’s water and resulted in an excessive amount of lead. The mostly black city has demanded Snyder’s resignation, but he has refused to accept all blame for his austerity measures.
The Republican convention will begin on July 18th in Cleveland, Ohio. Flint is approximately 250 miles from Cleveland. Is there any doubt that the protestors outside of Quicken Loans Arena will include residents of Flint?
The standard bearer of the Republican Party is a self-proclaimed racist and bigot. Joining Flint residents will be activists from Black Lives Matter. In addition to protesting the unforgivable situation in Flint, the organization will be attacking the Cleveland Police Department which has one of the worst records in the nation resulting in the treatment of blacks differently and more violently than whites.
The celebrations which occurred last week when the Cavaliers won the NBA Championship will be forgotten next month as dissenting voices will be heard in the surrounding area of Quicken Loans Arena.
Every passing day results in increased anger from the people of Flint. They have been ignored. Their demands to have a safe water supply are far from unreasonable. Snyder must either find a viable solution to the problem immediately, or resign and let a more involved, intelligent, and caring governor solve the situation.
The administration in Michigan is Rick Snyder’s Administration. He has attempted to pass the blame for this disastrous situation onto others, but this is an egregious act by a professional politician. He, alone, is in charge of all final decisions. He, alone, must ‘man-up’ and accept the responsibility for his poor judgement.
The American people must stand with the people of Flint. We have a right to expect those we elect to find the best possible solutions for our problems, not those which are most expedient.
Austerity measures are destructive. Good governors find positive solutions and deny any possibility of rash action which may harm their state’s residents.
When the subject concerns domestic issues, Republicans offer no solutions; they have none. All logical measures are denied in support of special interests. Time for change, real change has come. Vote all those who call themselves “Republicans” out of office.
Op-Ed
By James Turnage
Photo Courtesy of DonkeyHotey
The Truth With No Restrictions 