I don’t usually provide any commentary with my Tuesday series, yet feel I must with this set focused on some of the most vulnerable among us.
The first is on an issue I’ve followed for decades. CA has not used leaded fuel for decades yet in the early 2000’s research showed very high levels of lead in the soils of properties near freeways. Lead paint has been illegal to sell for decades, too. When freeways went in, many cities used them to partition off minority neighborhoods (not just in CA)—the homes are primarily of poor and minorities thus affected by lead where children play. Please read the details of what we apparently did to the children.
The third article includes a description of one such home—which I know myself is better than many other homes in that part of Los Angeles. Hope this helps to picture how bad it is for some in urban areas…the rest of it is also well worth reading to better understand some of how this election is viewed by others from different walks of life.
The middle one illuminates how bad a job our shredded safety is doing these days even with churches and other charitable groups doing all they can.
America's Real Criminal Element: Lead [the longer piece well worth reading to the end of its second page]
"New research finds lead is the hidden villain behind violent crime, lower IQs, and even the ADHD epidemic. And fixing the problem is a lot cheaper than doing nothing."
http://www.motherjones.com/environment/2013/01/lead-crime-link-gasoline
Fact of the Week: Roughly 25 Percent of Demand for Emergency Food Assistance and Shelter Went Unmet in U.S. Cities
http://www.chn.org/2016/01/21/fact-of-the-week-roughly-25-percent-of-demand-for-emergency-food-assistance-and-shelter-went-unmet-in-u-s-cities/#.VqJnIyorKUk
Powerful and Moving Endorsement of Bernie from NV Politician Lucy Flores (D) (hanky alert)
9 Responses to “Three Not So Terse Tuesday Tidbits January 26, 2016”
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Cross posted to Care2 at:
http://www.care2.com/news/member/663679641/3948841
MoJo – Lead is very, very scary stuff. And while we are discovering more about its effects – this article is three years old. Time marches on. Nothing s done. No one is really even talking about it.
When I read about Flint's water, I thiught of this article, and thought how white government in Michigan – mostly unelected government, the exception being Snyder – is not just failing chidren in general, but also creating the very crime Republicans claim to be so tough on. Lead. It can make you ill without even being directly explosed to it. It can make you ill just reading about it.
CHN – Another truth that I don't understand how anyone can know and remain unmoved. And yet – millions do.
DKos – Hanky alert, you bet. I wish her the very best of success in her primary. We often hear, and it appears to be true, that when given a choice between a real Republican and a fake Republican, voters will go for the real one every time. I hope and pray the same will turn out to be true of Democrats. As Progressives, we have spent the last eight years or so being pusillanimous and failing to field candidates who get behind Progressive values. I hope in future we will look back on Lucy as part of a turning point away from this, and I hope a successful turning point.
It looks like there might be criminal charges coming given the deaths in Flint…I wonder if there is grounds for a class action lawsuit against fuel companies for the lead contamination and clean up needs and health impacts….
There already has been a class-action lawsuit filed – with Gov. Snyder (R … like there was any doubt) the lead Defendant.
http://i2.cdn.turner.com/cnn/2016/images/01/10/may.et.al.v.snyder.et.al.-.pacer.1.complaint.for.injunctive.and.declaratory.relief.pdf
Thanks–glad it is happening there. I wondered about against the fuel companies for the contaminated soil, etc….the case in Flint might build case law for the case I'd like to see…
It seems that fossil fuel – and its additives – have even more to answer for than we originally thought. We've taken the lead out of petrol, but now some governors are forcing their poorer citizens to drink lead-laced water and have them pay for it too. Sometime it's hard not to let your imagination take over and start believing the conspiracy theories.
It's rather shocking to hear that (at least) 25% of requests for food and shelter were not met in (at least) 22 cities across America. That begs the question what happened to the people (including families with kids) that were turned away? Did they starve? End up in hospital? End up in prison because they had to steal to provide for their children? Freeze to death in the blizzards? Mind boggling.
Lucy Flores: "I believe that now, more than ever, America needs a political revolution." She is absolutely right about that and about the fact that voting for Bernie Sanders will bring that political revolution about. Kudos to Lucy Flores, her endorsement is what Bernie is all about.
Thanks again, Judi, for some powerful reading.
You are welcome Lona and ask questions no one is reporting answers for…the faith community has been saying since 2008 that they cannot handle the increased demand as government cuts funding for hunger and shelter programs…and this affirms what those who pushed for cuts created.
I'm surprised ny npne of this, especially that Bernie is the one trying to meet people's needs.
Mother Jones: This was very interesting. Lead was in everything prior to the sixties and seventies and no won worried about it, just as they had no worries about asbestos earlier. Wonder if Round UP will be the next study to see what it damages.
Fact of the Week: NOt surprised.
Lucy Flores: I had read this earlier and it is quite moving.
Thanks, Judi.