[Peace-discuss] , Detroit's Shock Doctrine Water Crisis Continues

[David Johnson via Peace-discuss]

    On Eve Of Netroots Nation, Detroit's Shock Doctrine Water Crisis
    Continues
    <http://crooksandliars.com/2014/07/eve-netroots-nation-detroits-shock>

By karoli <http://crooksandliars.com/users/karoli> July 14, 2014 7:00 am 
- 138 Comments 
<http://crooksandliars.com/2014/07/eve-netroots-nation-detroits-shock#disqus_thread>
59 Share0 31 Share1 130
There has been no letup in the relentless march to privatize Detroit's 
water, and even less response from lawmakers. Now the UN may intervene.
1 day 
<http://crooksandliars.com/cltv/2014/07/bullock-detroit-water-shutoffs-about> 
ago by Heather <http://crooksandliars.com/users/heather>
481
up

Detroit's water crisis 
<http://crooksandliars.com/2014/06/water-wars-detroit-edition> has not 
abated, not even a little. The unelected, undemocratic government ruling 
the city continues to shut water off for poor people unable to pay their 
bills. And boy, do they have some bills.

CBC 
<http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/windsor/canadians-fight-to-keep-water-on-for-79-000-in-detroit-1.2695043>:

    Nicole Hill is behind on her water bill. Her toilets are empty and
    her taps don't run.

    "I turn it on, nothing comes out. You don't hear anything but the
    squeaking of the faucets," Hill said.

    She owes nearly*$6,000*. To have her taps turned back on, she will
    have to pay *$4,449*.

How in the holy hell can she owe that kind of money? How much of that is 
for water charges and how much is for late charges?

Also in that CBC report, news that /Canadians/ are working to get water 
to Detroit residents. That's pathetic. After all, Detroit sits on the 
shores of Lake Erie, part of the Great Lakes, which holds over 20 
percent of the /world's/ water supply. There is really no excuse for 
anyone to be without water in this day and age, and certainly not 
because some undemocratically appointed austerity freak says so.

David Alexander Bullock, spokesman for the Change Agent Consortium 
<http://www.actioncac.org/spokesperson-corner.html>, appeared on Melissa 
Harris-Perry's show to discuss the evil Orwellian politics 
<http://michronicleonline.com/2014/07/09/detroits-orwellian-water-crisis-is-water-dept-engaging-in-selective-shutoffs/> 
in play here.

While poor people see their water cut, businesses don't suffer the same 
kind of draconian consequence for unpaid bills. On the contrary. Golf 
courses, stadiums, restaurants and other businesses continue to receive 
water delivery while the city's poorest do without.

John Nichols 
<http://www.thenation.com/blog/180625/against-austerity-detroit-water-human-right#>, 
writing for /The Nation:/

    The Detroit officials who have ordered the shutoffs say they are
    simply creating pressure to get bills paid, and argue that they are
    trying to do so in a responsible manner. But environmental writer
    Martin Lukacs counters:
    <http://www.theguardian.com/environment/true-north/2014/jun/25/detroits-water-war-a-tap-shut-off-that-could-impact-300000-people>

        The official rationale for the water shut-downs---the Detroit
        Water Department's need to recoup millions collapses on
        inspection
        <http://conversationsthatyouwillneverfinish.wordpress.com/2014/06/13/water-dispossession-and-resistance-by-shea-howell-week-62-of-the-occupation/>.
        Detroit's high-end golf club, the Red Wing's hockey arena, the
        Ford football stadium, and more than half of the city's
        commercial and industrial users are also owing---a sum totalling
        $30 million. But no contractors have showed up on their doorstep.


        ? Story continues below ?

        The targeting of Detroit families is about something else. *It
        is a ruthless case of the shock doctrine---the exploitation of
        natural or unnatural shocks of crisis to push through
        pro-corporate policies that couldn't happen in any other
        circumstance.*

    Congressman John Conyers
    <http://conyers.house.gov/index.cfm/press-releases?ID=253E6660-1B63-4D73-A2EF-8E2A5E163837>,
    D-Detroit, has called on the DWSD to stop the shutoffs, making the
    case that "in the 21st Century, in the wealthiest nation on earth,
    no one should ever go without safe, clean water."
    The congressman has aligned with the Detroit Water Brigade
    <http://detroitwaterbrigade.org/>, a grassroots movement that is
    organizing to stop the shutoffs and to get water to families.
    They've drawn international support. Canadians living across the
    river in Windsor have been organizing
    <http://blogs.windsorstar.com/2014/07/09/detroit-water-shut-offs-prompt-protestors-to-carry-windsor-h2o-cross-border/>
    to deliver water to Detroiters.

Netroots Nation <http://www.netrootsnation.org/> is set to convene in 
Detroit this Thursday. Will attendees bring attention to this? Elizabeth 
Warren and Joe Biden are keynote speakers. Will they address this and 
raise consciousness?

This should not be happening in this country anywhere. Ever.

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