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monicaangela

(1,508 posts)
Tue Mar 8, 2016, 09:27 AM Mar 2016

WHY IS RICK SNYDER STILL GOVERNOR OF MICHIGAN?

In a country where we prize democracy, how have we allowed Governors to become dictators. Why as we see what has happened in Flint Michigan, other cities in Michigan and across the country do we as citizens just watch it as if we are watching a TV Reality show? Reading the news this morning I came across the following article:

~~~~~
MI governor's aides urged switch away from Flint River

Two of Gov. Rick Snyder's top lawyers privately advocated moving the city of Flint back to the Detroit water system because of quality problems only months after Flint began to draw its drinking water from the Flint River and treat it at its own plant in mid-2014, according to a review of e-mails made public Friday by the governor's office.

Flint switched its water supply from Detroit to the Flint River in April 2014 in a cost-cutting move when the city was under a state-appointed emergency manager.

"They went out and asked tough questions of other people, but they were told the water was safe", Snyder said about Valerie Brader and Mike Gadola, who served as the governor's environmental policy adviser and chief legal counsel at the time.

"To anyone who grew up in Flint as I did, the notion that I would be getting my drinking water from the Flint River is downright scary", Gadola wrote.

A spokeswoman for the governor's office could not immediately be reached for comment.

The governor's top aides discussed Flint's water quality problems as early as the fall of 2014, the Detroit Free Press and Detroit News reported on Friday, citing emails released by the governor's office.

Top aides raised concerns about the water in the cash-strapped - and largely African-American - city of Flint long before its lead problem became a national embarrassment, their e-mails show.

~~~~~~

I continue to wonder why this continues to drag on after 2 years. Imagine if this were one of the following cities:
~~~~~
1. San Francisco — You'd need $124,561 to live comfortably in SF.
2. San Jose — You'd need around $115,515 here.
3. Washington, D.C. — $108,092 would be a comfortable salary in the nation's capital.
4. Seattle — $93,634 would be ideal here.
5. San Diego — You could be comfortable with a salary of $101,984.
6. Boston — $106,082 is what you'd need to be financially comfortable in this northern city.
7. New York City — To live comfortably, you'd need $131,365 in Brooklyn, $169,639 in Manhattan, and $116,907 in Queens.
8. Los Angeles — $102,061 would have you sitting pretty in LA.
9. Denver — $82,036 would be an ideal salary here.
10. Austin — Surprisingly, in spite of the high percentage of people earning over $150,000, you'd only need $72,912 to be comfortable in this Texas city.
http://www.usatoday.com/story/money/personalfinance/2015/01/25/cheat-sheet-10-richest-cities/21394881/
~~~~~

How long would it take if one of these cities had been suffering with this problem? When if ever will this nation become a nation of, by, and for the people? I wonder...



12 replies = new reply since forum marked as read
Highlight: NoneDon't highlight anything 5 newestHighlight 5 most recent replies
WHY IS RICK SNYDER STILL GOVERNOR OF MICHIGAN? (Original Post) monicaangela Mar 2016 OP
Haven't you noticed? We don't have representative democracy in this country anymore. librechik Mar 2016 #1
I have noticed... monicaangela Mar 2016 #2
Could be for leagal reasons RDANGELO Mar 2016 #3
Why haven't the people of the state monicaangela Mar 2016 #4
Motions are being made... N_E_1 for Tennis Mar 2016 #7
Since Calley was in fact appointed by Snyder monicaangela Mar 2016 #9
There is an active plan for a recall. The petition submitted by Rev. Bullock has been approved Tanuki Mar 2016 #5
This is wonderful news! monicaangela Mar 2016 #6
Good for you! Here is a link to options for direct involvement, including training to circulate Tanuki Mar 2016 #8
Wow! Thanks Tanuki! monicaangela Mar 2016 #10
Hopefully Snyder will be recalled soon or indicted Gothmog Mar 2016 #11
Hopefully he will be recalled and indicted monicaangela Mar 2016 #12

librechik

(30,673 posts)
1. Haven't you noticed? We don't have representative democracy in this country anymore.
Tue Mar 8, 2016, 09:31 AM
Mar 2016

Especially in Detroit.

monicaangela

(1,508 posts)
2. I have noticed...
Tue Mar 8, 2016, 09:33 AM
Mar 2016

What I would like to know is when will we as citizens decide we are angry enough to put a stop to this.

RDANGELO

(3,432 posts)
3. Could be for leagal reasons
Tue Mar 8, 2016, 09:43 AM
Mar 2016

Resigning would be like admitting that he did something wrong or extremely negligent.

monicaangela

(1,508 posts)
4. Why haven't the people of the state
Tue Mar 8, 2016, 09:46 AM
Mar 2016

recalled him. And, why hasn't the government put pressure on him to step down. Give him legal immunity if necessary, but get him out of there before he strikes again. Why do we allow people who we can see are not good for the people they are suppose to serve continue to sit in power as though we are helpless to do anything about it. This just amazes me.

N_E_1 for Tennis

(9,664 posts)
7. Motions are being made...
Tue Mar 8, 2016, 09:53 AM
Mar 2016

But the twist comes with the fact the "replacement" for Snyder is worse than Snyder.
We must be careful for what we ask.

Check out this article from Detroit Free Press:

Panel approves 2nd Snyder recall petition over Flint

http://www.freep.com/story/news/local/michigan/flint-water-crisis/2016/03/07/second-snyder-recall-petition-approved/81429958/

monicaangela

(1,508 posts)
9. Since Calley was in fact appointed by Snyder
Tue Mar 8, 2016, 10:03 AM
Mar 2016

I believe he should go with Snyder, if they can't recall them both and have the write in they want then I believe they can control Calley for the two years he would have left in office before having to be re-elected. Even if he is worse, that is no reason to allow someone like Snyder to remain in office.... there is NO excuse for that.

Tanuki

(14,914 posts)
5. There is an active plan for a recall. The petition submitted by Rev. Bullock has been approved
Tue Mar 8, 2016, 09:48 AM
Mar 2016

and will be launched on Easter Sunday (March 27), where large church congregations will be assembled with a lot of potential signers.
http://www.lansingstatejournal.com/story/news/local/michigan/flint-water-crisis/2016/02/23/snyder-recall-organizers-plan-easter-sunday-launch/80801252/

monicaangela

(1,508 posts)
6. This is wonderful news!
Tue Mar 8, 2016, 09:53 AM
Mar 2016

And something I plan to try to get involved in. I live about three hours from Detroit in Ohio. I lived in Michigan but on the other side of the state for 21 years. I have lots of friends there. I will definitely be contacting everybody I know and trying to get them to contact everybody they know so that this effort is successful. Thanks for this info Tanuki!

Tanuki

(14,914 posts)
8. Good for you! Here is a link to options for direct involvement, including training to circulate
Tue Mar 8, 2016, 10:00 AM
Mar 2016

the petitions, phone banking, house parties, fund raising, etc.
http://www.stopsnyder.com/get-involved.html

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