New Report Claims Governor Has “Significant Legal Responsibility”
I apologize for saying this, I barely have a right to speak on this, I live close to Flint but I don’t live in Flint.
But I am really frustrated, few things have EVER highlighted the privilege related to who gets prosecuted and incarcerated more than what I heard today about the Flint Water Crisis.
Today, after being vetted by several qualified attorneys, the Michigan School of Public Health released this report:
Which concluded (in relation to Governor Snyder) this:
And this:
So, I am frustrated because it is total bullshit that there are about 40,000 people in State Prisons in Michigan tonight (I used to be one of them) and Flint adds a significant amount of those prisoners per capita (it is one of the poorest and most “dangerous” cities in Michigan) and very few, if any of them can claim to have caused as much pain and suffering as Governor Snyder has by mismanaging the water crisis.
How much pain and suffering? Flint’s water crisis caused Pneumonia deaths, Legionnaires disease, increased fetal mortality, lower fertility rates, increased lead levels in kids blood throughout Flint, and of course whatever state and federal dollars have been spent and about $400 million in social costs.
I am willing to bet very few (if any) of Michigan’s 40,000 inmates have ever been as “significantly responsible” for this level of damage to human beings and yet, I guarantee you, Governor Snyder will never spend one day in jail or prison, will not have to apologize directly to the people he has hurt with his management, and he will never be charged criminal justice fees or fines (like most inmates).
In addition, to add insult to injury, we Michiganders have been paying for Governor Snyder’s legal defense for the Flint crisis (you just can’t make this kind of thing up). I suspect you know that the State doesn’t often pay for a particularly robust defense for its ordinary citizens.
My point is not to suggest that Governor Snyder should be in prison. I am, however, absolutely asking why we can be so punitive towards 40,000 often poor and rarely responsible for anything as spectacularly damaging as the Flint Water crisis but forgiving enough to overlook and pay for Snyder’s negligence.
He should, at the very least, engage in a lot more commutations.
Some will say that Governor Snyder messed up and that he was under incredible stress and had great responsibilities.
Exactly, with great power comes great responsibility.
Some will say that he was negligent but had no criminal intent.
Exactly, a decent percentage of Michigan’s incarcerated citizens are incarcerated because of negligent and many of Michigan’s criminal codes no longer require Mens Rea.
But, like I said, I only live near Flint.
I hope we hear from the people of Flint and I hope they demand accountability. If they do, I support them 100%.
Regardless of what happens, I know I am sick and tired of people’s position, privilege, skin color, and wealth being the main difference between them and the people who end up doing time.
Josh is a blogger and freelance writer. Please consider following him on Twitter, throwing a tip into his hat on Patreon, showing your appreciation using Paypal.me, or adding OnPirateSatellite to your feeds.
