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I mean, yes, but... we only got here because Flint itself failed so utterly it could not even provide even basic services like running water to its residents, s

I mean, yes, but... we only got here because Flint itself failed so utterly it could not even provide even basic services like running water to its residents, so the state took over. The state should have done better. But in reality, cities should not abdicate all responsibility for their own municipal services and expect anyone else to do it better.

jandrese 5y ago
The disaster happened only after the state took over. It was caused by a cost cutting measure on the state's part and ultimately ended up being way more expensive than the anti-lead leeching additive they decided to not use.
- bpodgursky 5y ago
  Yes. But the state took over because Flint was not financially able to run their own municipal water supply. I'm not saying the state was right. They were very wrong. Lead is awful. But if Flint had been a functioning city, we'd never be here. A state or federal government is never going to care as much as you do about your own lives and children. If you abdicate that responsibility and assume that "someone up there" will take care of you, you'll be bitten. It sucks, but it's reality.
  - lotsofpulp 5y ago
    > If you abdicate that responsibility and assume that "someone up there" will take care of you, you'll be bitten. It sucks, but it's reality. Even if that “you” is a poor, less literate, possibly descendant of slaves, whose communities are poorer for obvious reasons and have to work multiple low wage jobs with low income security because cheaper labor from other countries outcompeted you on the price of labor and environmental externalities. Then we find out how much of a “we” we really are.
    - bpodgursky 5y ago
      There are plenty of majority-black cities in the country which run effective municipal services, and it's kinda racist that you believe otherwise.
      - lotsofpulp 5y ago
        I did not imply that all majority-black cities run ineffective municipal services. I did imply that it might be reasonable to expect a community of people that are tired from working all day and may not have grown up with the best education and influence to have given them the necessary experiences to be able to evaluate a city’s financial situation and vote accordingly. They probably are not spending the couple hours of free time checking government budgets and reading minutes from city council meetings, much less attending them in pre internet days. I even keep up with many of the local political happenings, but quite frankly, I rely on the good will and good luck of the decision makers in my community doing the right thing.
- deleted 5y ago
  [deleted]

jandrese 5y ago

The disaster happened only after the state took over. It was caused by a cost cutting measure on the state's part and ultimately ended up being way more expensive than the anti-lead leeching additive they decided to not use.

bpodgursky 5y ago
Yes. But the state took over because Flint was not financially able to run their own municipal water supply. I'm not saying the state was right. They were very wrong. Lead is awful. But if Flint had been a functioning city, we'd never be here. A state or federal government is never going to care as much as you do about your own lives and children. If you abdicate that responsibility and assume that "someone up there" will take care of you, you'll be bitten. It sucks, but it's reality.
- lotsofpulp 5y ago
  > If you abdicate that responsibility and assume that "someone up there" will take care of you, you'll be bitten. It sucks, but it's reality. Even if that “you” is a poor, less literate, possibly descendant of slaves, whose communities are poorer for obvious reasons and have to work multiple low wage jobs with low income security because cheaper labor from other countries outcompeted you on the price of labor and environmental externalities. Then we find out how much of a “we” we really are.
  - bpodgursky 5y ago
    There are plenty of majority-black cities in the country which run effective municipal services, and it's kinda racist that you believe otherwise.
    - lotsofpulp 5y ago
      I did not imply that all majority-black cities run ineffective municipal services. I did imply that it might be reasonable to expect a community of people that are tired from working all day and may not have grown up with the best education and influence to have given them the necessary experiences to be able to evaluate a city’s financial situation and vote accordingly. They probably are not spending the couple hours of free time checking government budgets and reading minutes from city council meetings, much less attending them in pre internet days. I even keep up with many of the local political happenings, but quite frankly, I rely on the good will and good luck of the decision makers in my community doing the right thing.
deleted 5y ago
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