Impunity in Michigan: A Murderer Threatened with a Slap on the Wrist

https://www.npr.org/2021/01/14/956924155/ex-michigan-gov-rick-snyder-and-8-others-criminally-charged-in-flint-water-crisi

It is right and just that Rick Snyder faces criminal charges for his conduct with regard to the water system in Flint, Michigan.

He knowingly diverted polluted water into the city and then when informed about it he actively allowed it to continue. And yet he reconnected the GM plant to a clean water source. The plant was facing problems from the bad water but he knowingly and deliberately did not reconnect the residential areas of Flint. People got sick, died, and many more face chronic conditions.

It was an outrage that he seemingly was able to do this with impunity. However, given that the charges he faces would at most result in some fines and perhaps two years in jail – that's almost worse. The government can say it did its job in combating corruption – while an avarice motivated murderer (for that's what he is) walks away with little more than a slap on the wrist. It is an outrage.

It was not involuntary manslaughter. It was murder.

A career usurer and criminal, Snyder who professes to be a Christian – is unrepentant.

And the other tragedy connected to this story is the cover-up which was largely facilitated by the Obama administration – including the stunt pulled by Obama when he visited Flint in 2016. The president that many thought to be an outsider or even a socialist – turned out to be a protector of the capitalist status quo. Race had nothing to do with it as the president was more than happy to capitulate and throw the minority population of Flint 'under the bus'.

Trump played on the anger these events generated and utilised it – even though he did nothing and never had any intention of doing so.