The Least the Governor of Michigan Could Do

Michigan governor calls in the National Guard to help with the water crisis in Flint: https://t.co/jd1JjxpZat pic.twitter.com/I9LLwCTmJG

— The Root (@TheRoot) January 14, 2016

Calling in the National Guard to distribute water to the people in Flint, MI who do not have drinkable tap water, is a bit behind the beat and the least he could do. The people of Flint have had their water prices jacked-up by Detroit before the switch to the corrosive and polluted Flint River water source, and have enjoyed the benefits of funky, yellow, e coli-laden, lead-contaminated, and now possibly Legionnaire's disease-tainted water ever since. And they are being asked to pay for the privilege of being poisoned.

You couldn't call what is happening to these people "government", let alone "emergency management". I'd call it "depraved indifference" to the people Governor Snyder is supposed to be answerable to, and there should be a better answer than passing out bottled water at this late date. These folks need their water bills forgiven, they need a new water supply, and for the damage done to their kids, there needs to be a monetary settlement because the damage from lead to the children of Flint is not reversible and will impact their long-term cognitive health.

And every other governor or would-be governor of any state should look at this episode in future as the reason why you do not save pennies at the expense of human health and safety. It's an appalling mess.