[Jswee]

A different perspective.

Flint lead crisis getting a tad overdone: David Mastio

[magellan]

Originally Posted by Jswee

A different perspective.

Flint lead crisis getting a tad overdone: David Mastio

There are always deniers and "truthers" in these situations. L Brooks Patterson and Bill Ballenger said the whole thing might be a "hoax":

Some Michigan politicians say Flint water crisis a hoax | The Salt Lake Tribune

Thankfully this happened to Bill Ballenger: Within hours of voicing his skepticism, Ballenger was removed as a contributing writer for Inside Michigan Politics, "a newsletter that covers politics across the state," according to WWJ.

L Brooks Patterson's office has basically recanted anything that Patterson said, after he received a ton of backlash.

[Jswee]

Originally Posted by magellan

There are always deniers and "truthers" in these situations. L Brooks Patterson and Bill Ballenger said the whole thing might be a "hoax":

Some Michigan politicians say Flint water crisis a hoax | The Salt Lake Tribune

Thankfully this happened to Bill Ballenger: Within hours of voicing his skepticism, Ballenger was removed as a contributing writer for Inside Michigan Politics, "a newsletter that covers politics across the state," according to WWJ.

L Brooks Patterson's office has basically recanted anything that Patterson said, after he received a ton of backlash.

What part of his article could be described as being in denial or "truthers" (whatever that means in this scenario)?

He added some badly needed context to combat the hysteria that the likes of Michael Moore and others are throwing around.

[magellan]

Originally Posted by Jswee

What part of his article could be described as being in denial or "truthers" (whatever that means in this scenario)?

He added some badly needed context to combat the hysteria that the likes of Michael Moore and others are throwing around.

Ballenger claims that because he lives in Flint and didn't have any problem with his water, than there wasn't really that much of a problem. Ballenger is at best "anecdotal evidence," but my guess he doesn't even know that that means. He also brushes off that it affected 2 - 3% of the population. So 2000 people potentially lead poisoned is overblowing things.

Patterson took the bait: hook, line and sinker, because he's always suffered from sub-par intelligence.

[mgkeith]

I think that everyone can agree that there is a crisis in Flint. Didn't someone already mention something about name-calling and mature behavior?

[Jswee]

Originally Posted by magellan

Ballenger claims that because he lives in Flint and didn't have any problem with his water, than there wasn't really that much of a problem. Ballenger is at best "anecdotal evidence," but my guess he doesn't even know that that means. He also brushes off that it affected 2 - 3% of the population. So 2000 people potentially lead poisoned is overblowing things.

Patterson took the bait: hook, line and sinker, because he's always suffered from sub-par intelligence.

Since you quoted the article I linked and then made a statement about Deniers and truthers, I thought you were referring to the author of the article I linked, apparently I was wrong.

Since you are throwing out that 2% - 3% of the population has been affected with lead poisoning, do you have any actual data to back up that claim or is that just speculation?

The actual data that has been made available (via the275 pages of Foia'd documents released by the Flint Water Study) indicates that as of November of 2015, approx. 274 children under 18 and 44 adults in the two flint zip codes profiled by the Hurley Physician, have been shown to have elevated lead levels in their blood. Certainly unfortunate but substantially less then 2% - 3% of the population in Flint.

For some added context, the numbers of kids with elevated lead in their blood in Flint in 2014 & 2015 are fewer then the number of kids in Flint with elevated lead in their blood in 2011, when Flint was still on Detroit Water. One wonders who those kids should be suing for being exposed to lead?

[magellan]

Originally Posted by Jswee

Since you quoted the article I linked and then made a statement about Deniers and truthers, I thought you were referring to the author of the article I linked, apparently I was wrong.

Since you are throwing out that 2% - 3% of the population has been affected with lead poisoning, do you have any actual data to back up that claim or is that just speculation?

The actual data that has been made available (via the275 pages of Foia'd documents released by the Flint Water Study) indicates that as of November of 2015, approx. 274 children under 18 and 44 adults in the two flint zip codes profiled by the Hurley Physician, have been shown to have elevated lead levels in their blood. Certainly unfortunate but substantially less then 2% - 3% of the population in Flint.

For some added context, the numbers of kids with elevated lead in their blood in Flint in 2014 & 2015 are fewer then the number of kids in Flint with elevated lead in their blood in 2011, when Flint was still on Detroit Water. One wonders who those kids should be suing for being exposed to lead?

Those were Ballenger's words, not mine. The guy who has now been fired for his remarks.

Since I trust a pediatrician who works at Hurley Hospital over a random poster on a public forum, you're going to have to provide proof to your last paragraph or it will be deleted.

[magellan]

Originally Posted by mgkeith

I think that everyone can agree that there is a crisis in Flint. Didn't someone already mention something about name-calling and mature behavior?

"Mature behavior" was never called out before. It's too subjective. You're allowed to name call public officials all you want, just not other members of the forum.

[justNancy]

Originally Posted by Jswee

A different perspective.

[url=http://www.usatoday.com/story/opinion/2016/01/22/flint-water-lead-poison-michigan-health-column/79019134/]Flint lead crisis getting a tad overdone: David Mastio[/url]

"a tad overdone?"

I wonder if he wrote this article while sipping on a glass of Evian. I cannot imagine telling a parent that the number of alcohol related incidents has fallen in recent years after her child was seriously injured by a drunk driver. So what? I don't see much difference in discussing past lead tests in Michigan. They have nothing to do with the current water crisis.

[Lyndarn]

Originally Posted by Jswee

A different perspective.

Flint lead crisis getting a tad overdone: David Mastio

So says someone who has never walked in those shoes getting forced to pay for water that is toxic..and suffering exponentially.....and no doubt don't have access nor funds to truck in water for their homes to avoid "City Water"...What a crock!!

Originally Posted by magellan

There are always deniers and "truthers" in these situations. L Brooks Patterson and Bill Ballenger said the whole thing might be a "hoax":

Some Michigan politicians say Flint water crisis a hoax | The Salt Lake Tribune



Thankfully this happened to Bill Ballenger: Within hours of voicing his skepticism, Ballenger was removed as a contributing writer for Inside Michigan Politics, "a newsletter that covers politics across the state," according to WWJ.

L Brooks Patterson's office has basically recanted anything that Patterson said, after he received a ton of backlash.

It goes beyond just denying..He does NOT have a MD nor a PHD/BSC behind his name..so will promote whatever when gets paid to do so...WHAT a hoax this idiot is..once time moves forward..and the actually devastation that result by decisions made by "Emergency Manager" to save a few million bucks!! Meanwhile multi-Billions cost will only scratch the surface....WHAT a fiasco!! and IMO Criminal..especially since red flags were raise years ago!!!

Originally Posted by justNancy

"a tad overdone?"

I wonder if he wrote this article while sipping on a glass of Evian. I cannot imagine telling a parent that the number of alcohol related incidents has fallen in recent years after her child was seriously injured by a drunk driver. So what? I don't see much difference in discussing past lead tests in Michigan. They have nothing to do with the current water crisis.