The problem is bigger than an apology.

The issue here is the focus. The focus wasn't the people it was the money. It is a blatant and willful act that had no one other than a business manager working the books. This is a prime example of how Republicans are dedicated to balancing the books while making 'tough decisions." This tough decision resulted in lead poisoning of children that do not have control over their environment or the food and water they consume.'

There is far more to governing then finding a cheap alternative. Governing is not Wall Street and Wall Street is not governing. Wall Street makes selective choices to increase profits to stockholders. Governing is a matter of reflecting on all the issues that impact a population of people. Governing requires spending money that provides goods and services for everyone. There is no cutting costs on expenses like water and/or water treatment. There are no corners to cut and that has been the problem in Flint from the beginning. 

"The Rust Belt" had a booming economy until the automotive industry abandoned the USA and sought cheap labor elsewhere. Just because the auto industry saw cheaper costs, Flint didn't have that luxury. The city continued to be home to Americans, the difference then became the reality of poverty. The Americans in Flint, Michigan never were provided a new form of employment and the costs to the city continued. Flint residents continued to pay their property taxes and there were loans and all sorts of coping with the profound loss of tax base, but, it never recovered. Today, towns like Flint are still facing huge budget short falls and has absolutely nothing to do with local elected officials. The problems these town have are far beyond a change in governance.

In the case of Flint, it was perking along with improvements the mayor and council could find year after year; but; to solve it's budget problem required opening up a new GM parts plant. That wasn't going to happen. The town applied for Brownfield Sites monies from the federal government in hopes new manufacturing would find the town attractive again. Once those Brownfield monies disappeared and there was still no filling in the budget gap the town had to face options that were neither realistic or productive. Declaring bankruptcy for a city is devastating. It is a matter of rebuilding from the ground up, but, it doesn't mean the baseline costs change.

The problem today, in Flint as in other cities in Michigan, as an apology doesn't do a darn thing to them. Flint woke up today to an apology and their circumstances hadn't changed. I don't know what it feels like to be a parent to a child that has experienced lead poisoning. The child is handicapped today because of environmental poisoning. That is not suppose to happen to Americans. 

The problem began and ends with Governor Snyder and his emergency managers. The emergency manager program needs to end. Just that simple. Governor Synder needs to resign. He has proven he is not capable of even understanding governance. He is not capable and the people of Michigan should have a new election for the remaining time of his term in office.

There is an expression "You can't put an old head on young shoulders." That is exactly the problem here, "You can't put a governing head on Wall Street shoulders and survive the day." It's over for Snyder. He needs to resign. He can't do the job and how much has to happen to prove how incompetent he is.

Michigan is a tough problem for the country. It takes experience and knowledge of the best governance skills to solve their problems. Snyder doesn't even come close.

And by the way, the automotive industry didn't survive their own skills to improve profits either. Americans are wondering when Wall Street will finally get it.

January 20, 2016

By Caitlin Dickson

Governor Rick Snyder (click here) apologized to the residents of Flint, Michigan Tuesday evening for the failure in state, local and federal leadership resulting in a water contamination crisis that has consumed the city for nearly two years.

"To you, the people of Flint, I say tonight as I have before, I am sorry and I will fix it," Snyder said in his annual state of the state address, calling on state lawmakers to approve $28 million in funds to help replace water faucets in city schools and daycare centers, do diagnostic tests and treat children who may have been exposed to lead and other hazardous chemicals, and study the city’s piping system.

Snyder’s apology came amid calls for his resignation over what critics charge has been a delayed and neglectful response to the city’s water crisis. Flint residents began complaining about the taste, odor, and color of their tap water as well as side effects like rashes and hair loss within a month after the city had switched its drinking water supply from the Detroit Water and Sewerage Department to the Flint River in April 2014. But it wasn’t until October of 2015—after reports revealed an increase in lead-in-blood levels among Flint residents and children in particular—that Snyder finally ordered Flint to stop using the river water and return to Detroit’s supply....