Today's MOZEN: An Enemy of the People

Words and photo by f LoBuono

What is happening with the contaminated water of Flint, Michigan is not new. Oh, quite to the contrary, this type of governmental deception and mismanagement has been going on for centuries. And, it doesn't just happen here. It can happen just about anywhere in the world.

In 1882, the great Norwegian playwright, Henrik Ibsen, wrote An Enemy of the People. The story centers around a small Norwegian town, famous for its rejuvenating mineral baths. The town's entire economy is based on the tourists who flock there for the waters. There's just one problem: the leading physician in the town, Dr. Thomas Stockmann, has discovered that the waters of the spa were tainted. In fact, the pollution was so bad as to be potentially lethal. The doctor insists that the baths must be closed.

At first, Dr. Stockmann, who also happened to be the mayor's brother, expected to be treated as a hero. After all, he has done his job to protect the people and honor his Hippocratic oath. However, he finds the town's reaction to him to be anything but positive. In fact, he becomes the most hated man in the village. By the end of the play, his career is in ruins, his family has been abused, and his house ransacked. The whole place, including his brother, has turned on him. The town chooses its economic survival over its own honor. However, the doctor will not compromise. Despite the hardships visited upon him and his family he remains steadfast in his opposition. Dr. Stockmann remains true to himself and his convictions.

Fast forward about 150 years to 2015/16 and Flint. Like many cities in the so-called rust belt, it is a place that has fallen on hard times. Once supported by a booming auto industry, most of the 100,000 residents struggle to make ends meet. In an effort to save money, the Republican Governor of Michigan, Rick Snyder, decided to appoint a City Manager that would oversee the city's water supply with an eye towards saving money. So, with the Governor's approval, the City Manager decided to change the source of Flint's water supply from Lake Huron, where it has always gotten its TREATED water, to the Flint River.

And, you know what? The city DID save money. But, at a terrible cost. It seems that the Flint River is KNOWN to be polluted. In addition to the poor overall quality of the water, it was fed, untreated through Flint's antiquated plumbing. The untreated water corroded the old pipes causing them to leach potentially deadly lead into the system. So, now you have water that is not only unsafe to drink, you can't even wash with it!

There is mounting evidence that Gov. Snyder and others in his administration KNEW that this was a problem months ago, yet did nothing about it. In fact, some have suggested that the evidence was actually suppressed. Once again, a government, whose main objective is to keep the people safe has failed miserably. And, we are left to ask, WHY?

The answer lies within the philosophy of each political party. The Republicans, like Rick Snyder, are all about money. It is no secret that the GOP economic platform is "Trickle Down", i.e. allow corporations, virtually unfettered, to earn as much money as they can. From this lofty pinnacle, the heads of these vast companies, out of the goodness of their hearts, will create even MORE business, and make more money so that at least some of that money will go to the workers.  To accomplish this, the GOP would remove ANY impediment to "doing business". If that means dismantling the EPA, a COMMON GOP theme, then so be it. Like the town leaders in Ibsen's play: people be damned - it's MONEY THAT COUNTS!

On the other hand, the Democrats, see the value in protecting the people FIRST. Sometimes, that means that a strong hand by the government IS necessary. Although no one likes 'Big" government, we cannot be left with NO government. Through the years, this has been particularly true with labor and the environment. Without the help of trade unions (who the GOP would break), workers would never have been able to achieve the safe working conditions that most of us now enjoy. Without government watch dogs, like the EPA (which the GOP would dissolve), I fear the situation in Flint would be the reality rather than the exception.

Once again, the choice is clear: Your money or your life. . .