The Private Sector Is Now Providing Basic Services to Flint

[jpak]

http://www.theatlantic.com/politics/archive/2016/01/flint-water-crisis-walmart/427062/

A coalition of some of America’s 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 city’s 10,000 students.

In October, testing found toxic levels of lead in the water at Flint’s 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 city’s pipes and leach lead into drinking water—in 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 Flint’s schools and citizens in the immediate term. But a one-time infusion of gallons of fresh water doesn’t 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 aren’t 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 can’t 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]

1. Shock Doctrine.

[Kip Humphrey]

2. The fascist corporatocracy at work. Hillary will be very pleased.

[Mika]

3. Mission accomplished!

[2naSalit]

4. Exactly. nt

[SickOfTheOnePct]

5. At least they'll get clean water

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]

6. That is what we the people have in FEMA (or, that's what we're supposed to have).

The repukes have taken down yet another city with their destructive policies.

Just where the f*ck is FEMA?

[SickOfTheOnePct]

7. From what I've read

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]

8. I don't think anyone is saying they should go without.

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]

9. Republicans aren't running FEMA n/t

[Mika]

11. Pretty sure the governor has to request FEMA.

https://www.fema.gov/declaration-process-fact-sheet

[SickOfTheOnePct]

13. I linked to an article further down the thread re: FEMA n/t

[Mika]

14. Got it. Thanks.

[SickOfTheOnePct]

10. Looks like FEMA is doing limited assistance

http://www.detroitnews.com/story/news/politics/2016/01/22/fema-denies-snyders-flint-disaster-request/79206308/

According to this article, they will provide water, filters, etc., for up to 90 days.

[Mika]

12. OK. Thanks for the info.

[1939]

15. FEMA

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]

16. Glad they are getting water for now, but it's still disturbing.

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.