When crafting The Declaration of Independence in 1776, Thomas Jefferson, wrote about certain inalienable rights which are guaranteed to the citizens of this nation. Jefferson stated American’s have the equal and undeniable rights to: “life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness” (US 1776). These themes were replicated in the US Constitution in 1787 when “We the people,” desired to “promote the general welfare” (US 1787). In 2002, The United Nations Committee for Economic, Social, and Cultural Rights, wrote: “The human right to water is indefensible for leading a life of human dignity. It is a prerequisite for the realization of other human rights” (HRW). The Flint Water Crisis has brought to light the true injustices that still plagues our country. The crisis has demonstrated a harsh reality: a denial of a basic human right. Some of America’s most vulnerable citizens were denied their basic human right to clean drinking water. Tainted drinking water flowed through the pipes of Flint homes and businesses for months without any governmental action. In their book Poison on Tap, the staff at Bridge Magazine wrote, “45 years after America put a man on the moon, the residents of an American city drank Third World water” (Campbell 5). The foul water not only poisoned thousands, but destroyed the fabric and trust that unites our society. The Flint Water Crisis is more than an isolated issue. The Flint Water Crisis is deeper than a malfunction of aging infrastructure. The Flint Water Crisis goes beyond a mere poor decision by lawmakers. The Flint Water Crisis was a severe institutional failure, a disgrace by the public officials who were trusted to faithfully execute the duties of their offices. Thousands of residents did not get poisoned as the result of one poor decision or a negligible error. Rather, the crisis was caused by a several decades long series of neglect, mistreatment, and pure bad luck. Most horrifyingly, is that the entire disaster all could have been avoided by some simple due diligence. Ultimately, it was the severe failure and neglect by public officials in multiple branches of government that directly caused the Flint Water Crisis. An appalling and fatal series of mistakes forever altered the life of thousands of our nation’s most vulnerable citizens. 

Flint, located in mid-eastern Michigan, is a unique American city. Flint has a complex yet highly individualized history. Since its inception, Flint has had several periods marked by drastic social and economic differences. Recognizing the varied history of the city is vital for understanding the cumulative chronology of the crisis. Lumber rich Flint was first incorporated in 1855. However, Flint is best known as the home of a manufacturing plant for General Motors. The city thrived during its industrial years and by the 1950’s it was the single largest manufacturer of automobiles for General Motors. During the 1980’s and 1990’s globalization and automation led to General Motors severely downsizing and closing many of their manufacturing plants in the city. The auto industry that once employed 80,000 city residents, today, employs less than 8,000 (Campbell 3). With few employment opportunities remaining, scores fled the city. Drastic deindustrialization and population loss has since crippled the area. Flint has become synonymous with high crime, high unemployment, and a poor economic state. The disappearing tax base coupled with the economic downturn has contributed to widespread budget cuts. According to the US Census Bureau Flint’s median household income is a mere $24,862 today. In fact, “Flint is the second most impoverished city in the United States” (Morckel 25). Infrastructure across the city has become outdated or decayed. The water crisis was the tipping point, a visible manifestation of the severe neglect and decline of one of our nation’s great industrial powerhouses. 

A simple decision proved disastrous. In early Spring of 2014, city and state officials met to discuss the future of the city’s water supply. The decades of population loss contributed to a vicious cycle of economic failure. Victoria Morckel outlines this cycle in her article published in Cities, “As a result, there are fewer residents to pay property and income taxes, fewer people available to frequent-and thus keep in business- revenue- generating businesses that pay taxes, and more vacant structures… which further reduce tax revenue” (Morckel 24). The city was deeply in debt and operating under severe pressure from state government. Michigan governor, Rick Snyder, made a decision to appoint an emergency manager in charge of overseeing government operations in the city. “Facing $15 million in debt, in 2011, Snyder appointed the first of four emergency managers to effectively run the city” (Sanburn 35).  As a cost saving measure under the guidance of the emergency manager, officials made the decision to temporarily switch the water supply to the Flint River. Flint had previously purchased water from Detroit since the 1960’s; facing economic problems of their own, Detroit began to raise the rate they charge other municipalities for water (Sanburn 35). Astoundingly, the impoverished residents of Flint paid the “highest water rate in the United States, despite… abundant access to fresh water via the Great Lakes” (Morckel 25). “Flint, under state-appointed emergency management, changed its water supply from Detroit-supplied Lake Huron water to the Flint River” (Hanna-Attisha, et al 283). “The move was supposed to be an interim measure through 2016, when a new pipeline would let the city connect to water from Lake Huron (Davis 1). However, the water from the Flint River was drastically different than the treated water supplied by Detroit. “Flint water had high chloride, high chloride-to-sulfate mass ratio, and no corrosion inhibitor (Hanna-Attisha, et al 283). City officials made the decision not to treat the Flint River water with anti-corrosion agents that would prevent lead from leaching despite the fact it had eight times as much chloride as the cities previous water supply (Sanburn 35). Later, “it emerged that Flint’s water hadn’t been treated with chemicals that would have made it less corrosive to pipes, a fix that would have cost only $150 a day” (Davis 1). Although the decision to switch the city’s water source may have been a smart cost-saving option, the decision not to treat the water was completely irresponsible. Whether it had resulted from a lack of oversight or strict budgetary constraints, it is unfathomable how the people of an entire city were poisoned over a mere fee of 150 dollars per day. Soon after the switch the disastrous implications unfolded.

On April 24th, 2014 the water source was officially switched to the Flint River. The ‘new’ water that flowed from the faucets was anything but ordinary. Residents took notice of the discolored, foul smelling, and horribly tasting liquid. One resident, Mellissa Mays, mentioned how her hair started falling out, she developed severe rashes, and a respiratory infection (Sanburn 34). Complaints to city officials went ignored for weeks on end. All the while children, seniors, and working class residents continued to bathe, cook with, and drink the highly contaminated and dangerous water. Public officials continually insisted the water was safe to drink. The appointed emergency manager, Darnell Earley, even said “the water quality speaks for itself” (Sanburn 35). In a highly publicized video, Flint Mayor Dayne Walling drank a glass of the water to demonstrate his faith in its quality (Mlivevideo). However, “by October 2014, the water was so corrosive that GM announced it would no longer use municipal water at a local plant because it was damaging engine parts” (Sunburn 35). Almost, an entire year passed with no action by city or state officials. In fact, “the local government did not acknowledge that a problem existed until October 2015, and the state government did not declare a state of emergency in Genesee County until January 2016” (Morckel 23). Water, that was not of quality to be used in the automobile manufacturing process, was consumed by residents and children on a daily basis. If the water was so corrosive that it was destroying engine parts, what havoc must it be wreaking on the human body? The complaints kept filing in, yet government officials failed to act. 

Some medical professionals soon noticed children suffering from increased cases of lead poisoning and other health problems. Dr. Mona Hanna-Attisha soon became a national activist and a voice for the children of Flint. Dr. Hanna-Attisha, a pediatrician practicing in Flint, realized that tests could be done to see if children were exposed to high amounts of lead. Many tests showed a high concentration of lead in the water, but it was still unknown if children had high concentrations of lead in their blood. A team of researchers at Virginia Tech decided to conduct an independent study of the city’s water. Under the direction of professor Marc Edwards, the team conducted tests of the lead concentrations in the water and the results were shocking. The team of researchers found the average lead concentration was 2,000 part per billion, well above the EPA recommended action level of 15 parts per billion (Adams, Tuel).  “Lead is a potent neurotoxin, and childhood lead poisoning has an impact on many developmental and biological processes, most notable intelligence, behavior, and overall life achievement” (Hanna-Attisha, et al 283). Dr. Hanna-Attisha and her team used Medicaid records of toddlers to compare lead levels of results from before and after the city switched its water supply (Ganim, Tran). The study found that there are significant differences in the elevated blood lead level percentage before and after the switch, and no other possible sources of lead exposure were found (Hanna-Attisha, et al). The team discovered levels of lead in the blood of children had doubled and the amount of children with lead poisoning had tripled (Davis 1). Finally, only after these horrific findings did the crisis became a national news story. Only after the negative news attention did the government begin to act and remedy the problem. For months, the poor and marginalized citizens were ignored and repeatedly told the water was safe to drink. For months, the government not only failed to act, but insisted that residents continue to use the contaminated water. “Families had no choice but to accept water from the Flint River until October 2015, when the city reconnected to Detroit Water and Sewage” (Davis 1). Unfortunately, it was too late and the damage was already done. Thousands of residents had been poisoned at the hands of reckless officials across all branches of government. Flint mayor Karen Weaver has stated that future increased funding is necessary for special education, mental health services, and judicial services (Botelho). The future taxpayers of Flint will be on the hook and required to care for the poisoned generation. An entire generation of children will suffer and grow up mentally deficient and physically disabled.

The evidence is clear: the people of Flint were poisoned; their lives were forever altered. Naturally, the question that arises is: “who is to blame, who was responsible for poisoning an entire city?” Some individuals have used the crisis to support a political agenda and place the responsibility on the leadership of a specific political party. Journalist John Hayward went as far to say, “The truth is that Flint, Michigan is an extreme case of what always happens to cities after generations of Democrat governance” (Hayward). Such broad politically motivated claims are not only ludicrous but unfair. Attempting to blame a political party for what happened in Flint does nothing to heal the wounds and provide compensation to the victims. Furthermore, such statements only cloud the truth and hinder future preventative measures. The attempt to avoid overarching generalizations, however, should not take away from the fact that severe mistakes were made by many different individuals and agencies.

Although some officials may bare more responsibility than others; the truth is the Flint Water Crisis was a systematic governmental failure that stretched across boundaries and branches. Officials from multiple agencies representing the local, state, and federal governments all share some responsibility.  A series of poor decisions across many governmental facets contributed to a bureaucratic failure. Civil servants failed to uphold their oath to protect their constituents. The catastrophe resulted from a series of poor decisions, neglect, and oversight. Although the decision to switch the water source may have been economically efficient, officials failed to thoroughly analyze the risk associated with the decision. Government officials were well aware of the problems associated with water from the Flint River before they made the decision. In fact, “A 2011 study on the Flint River found it would have to be treated with an anti-corrosive agent for it to be considered as a safe source for drinking water” (Ganim, Tran). Ignorance is not a viable excuse when human lives are at risk. Simple due diligence and research by government officials would have revealed the risk with switching the water supply. Ideally, the officials should not have rushed the decision to switch the water supply. Many officials blame the state appointed emergency manager, Ed Kurtz, as the man who first came up with the idea to use the new water source (Sanburn 35). After all, it was Kurtz who signed the contract to start the process and as a result he holds some responsibility for the change. It was Kurtz’s successor, emergency manager Darnell Easly, who said, “the water quality speaks for itself” (Sanburn 35). The water crisis was a direct result of decisions made the emergency managers appointed by governor Snyder. The emergency managers made a series of poor decisions and appeared disinterested in the welfare of the city. However, the blame does not end there. Victoria Morckel mentions how, “there has been much finger-pointing beyond the emergency manager, with individuals at all levels of government and beyond receiving some blame” (Morckel 23). Further failures, poor leadership, and negligent behavior plagued all branches of government. 

The train of poor decisions continued when it was decided not to treat the Flint Water with an anti-corrosion agent. It has since been estimated that a corrosion inhibitor would’ve only cost the city 150 dollars per day (Davis 1). Officials were well aware of the corrosion levels in the Flint water, making it even more concerning they failed to address it. Although the decision not to treat the water may not have been malicious, it definitely was egregious. Some simple due diligence and research and the officials would’ve realized the danger of not treating the water. Attorney Michael Pitt who is representing several Flint families said, “Michigan officials made a deliberate decision not to use standard processing of the water to make it safe” (Davis 1). Michael Pitt’s assessment is right in that the Flint officials defied the status quo in their decision not to treat the water. According to one class action law-suit the state Department of Environmental Quality was in violation of federal law when they decided not to treat the water (Ganim, Tran). Michael Pitt went on to say, “Not only did they create the danger; they prolonged it. Unfortunately, people died because they lied” (Davis 1). In Pitt’s quote exists the greatest governmental failure: their response.

The government failed to listen to the needs of its constituents. The most horrifying part of the whole catastrophe was the blatant inaction by different branches of government. The policymakers in Flint ignored complaints about the water quality for months and ensured residents the water was safe. Even after tests showed the toxicity of the water officials continued to ignore the issue. Hillary Clinton brings up an interesting point in regards to the government inaction when she said, “I’ll tell you what-if the kids in a rich suburb of Detroit had been drinking contaminated water and being bathed in it there would’ve been action” (Sanburn 34). Unfortunately, such a sentiment is probably true. One can only begin to wonder if the racial and socioeconomic impoverishment of the city contributed to the government inaction. Dimple Chaudhary, an attorney with the Natural Resources Defense Council was also troubled by the government inaction when he said, “It’s incredibly troubling to see how long the situation persisted, and to see how long government officials at every level were aware of the problem before any meaningful action was taken” (Davis 2). In fact, it took well over a year, from April 2014 to October 2015, until the city even admitted a problem existed. It took 18 months, hundreds of complaints, several studies, and strict media scrutiny before officials admitted to the existence of a problem. After Dr. Hanna-Attisha released her study, “the state publicly denounced her work, saying she was causing near hysteria” (Ganim, Tran). A great deal of blame has been placed over the State Department of Environmental Quality (DEQ) who after being presented with the research simply dismissed it. Also, the DEQ failed to oversee the city’s decision. DEQ director, Dan Wyant, eventually resigned in the face of great scrutiny (Ganim, Tran). Even after the situation was recognized by government officials they continued to dodge blame and fail to accept responsibility. 

Blame has been placed on individuals and organizations across the state. Federal lawsuits and investigations have begun to shine light on the responsible parties. In his Time magazine cover piece, Josh Sanburn, asked, “How can government fail at a job so fundamental we take it as a given? The answer is a disastrous combination of bad policy, shortsighted decisions, and bureaucratic malfeasance” (Sanburn 35). Sanburn is correct in his analysis of a deep rooted and complex failure across multiple agencies. Eventually, as cries for his resignation grew louder, Michigan governor Rick Snyder admitted, “Government failed you. I am sorry, and I will fix it” (Sanburn 34). Snyder’s apology does little to heal the pain. Ultimately, it was under Snyder’s leadership that a generation became poisoned. Former Flint chief legal officer, Trachelle Young believes the governor was responsible. Young said, “The emergency manager, to me, was simply the method to the madness. The madness was the governor” (Davis 3). Filmmaker Michael Moore, a Flint native, also places responsibility on the governor. In an eerily emotional quote Moore said, “And when the governor found out, he kept quiet and let the poor of Flint continue drinking the poison. Marie Antoinette would’ve been proud” (Moore). However, the blame goes beyond Snyder, the DEQ, and the emergency managers. As a result of a thorough investigation three low level officials have been indicted “on charges including conspiracy to tamper with evidence” (Davis 3). After losing a reelection campaign, former mayor, Dayne Walling who once insisted the water was safe to drink said, “In retrospect, I regret all of it… it was completely avoidable” (Ganim, Tran). Such statements after the fact, after the horror, do little to close the festering wounds left on the thousands of Flint residents. 

Ultimately, there are no real winners. A generation of Flint residents must now live a life controlled by pain and suffering. Pain and suffering caused by irresponsible government employees and agencies. A generation of America’s future, a group of over 9,000 children have had the course of their lives forever altered. A group of parents must face the despair of watching their children grow up with physical and developmental disabilities. A group of government officials must go to sleep every night, knowing their irresponsibility, inaction, and negligence has destroyed a generation: a generation of dreamers, a generation of tomorrow. 
