As I sit and post this, I’m watching Rachel Maddow on MSNBC (who blew the lid of the story of the poisoning of Flint MI’s water) host a town hall where she is interviewing experts, the Mayor — and doing so with a live audience that is asking her guests questions.
If the great investigative print journalists of the past were around today, this is exactly the format they would have used to expose unfair labor practices, child labor abuse, poverty, racism, etc.
I know we are in the middle of a Presidential campaign, but this is about our kids. Yes, there is a political element, and I cannot believe the FBI isn’t investigating their idiot tea party Governor (who’s people caused the problem) and ignored the science — but this is so much deeper than that:
This is about an entire town full of people who cannot bathe, cannot drink the water — and worst of all, the thousands of children who may very well have been permanently injured as they spent 18 months drinking this poisoned water. This is an entire community of families who will never, ever be the same. And their government let them down. And they still are — according to this town hall.
Kudos, Rachel Maddow — this is what journalism is all about. I’m so glad you were there, but I’m so sorry the story was there for you to discover.
Update: Antitheist has provided a link to stream live here: www.nbcnews.com/… (no sign-in required).
Update #2: Rachel has dug deeper and done it again: We have learned tonight that Governor Snyder has not really moved to fix the problem at all. He’s sitting on a huge surplus and needs to move immediately to replace the piping damaged by his administration. And that Flint schools have no nurses, which I would think would be some sort of legal requirement. Also has to be fixed immediately. Worst Governor in the US right now — and I’m not from Michigan and have never, ever lived there. What a tragedy for the people of Flint.
