Why water is becoming unaffordable

Latest

Children from Detroit, Flint and other Michigan cities march last year against unaffordable water shutoffs to low income families. This crisis continues, raises public health concerns, and will eventually affect us all. We have to stop the drive by corporate-government to privitize our water. Water must be owned publicly and distributed to all who need it.
PHOTO/VALERIE JEAN

 
“If water rates continue rising at projected amounts, the number of U.S. households unable to afford water could triple in five years, to nearly 36 percent, finds new research by a Michigan State University scholar.” This process is actually moving forward quite rapidly as corporations wage an all out effort to privatize—that is, privately own—the public’s water. We are seeing the outcome of corporate influence over public resources throughout the country. The whole city of Flint was poisoned by an unelected governor-appointed corporate dictator who changed the water to a polluted source to set the basis for its privitization. The people of Appalachia are dying of cancer from the toxic water and air resulting from the corporate drive for profit of the coal industry. Thousands protested the DAPL pipeline that threatened the water and land at Standing Rock. Now we are seeing the full scale unleashing of the energy corporations and environmental regulations throughout the country. Our only hope is to build a powerful movement that demands that the government work for the people, not the corporations. The government must guarantee clean, safe, affordable water and energy for everyone as a basic human right.

PT Logo collage
+ Articles by this author

Free to republish but please credit the People's Tribune. Visit us at www.peoplestribune.org, email peoplestribune@gmail.com, or call 773-486-3551.

The People’s Tribune brings you articles written by individuals or organizations, along with our own reporting. Bylined articles reflect the views of the authors. Unsigned articles reflect the views of the editorial board. Please credit the source when sharing: ©2024 peoplestribune.org. Please donate to help us keep bringing you voices of the movement. Click here. We’re all volunteer, no paid staff.

LEAVE A REPLY

Please enter your comment!
Please enter your name here

Featured

‘I Am a Political Prisoner’ Says Jailed Immigrant Rights Activist

In this interview with Democracy Now, Journalist Maria Hinojosa describes her recent interview in an ICE detention center in Colorado with jailed immigration activist Jeanette Vizguerra.

War No More – Veterans Reflect on the Meaning of Memorial Day

Veterans for Peace say wars will not end, – and nuclear war will not be averted – unless there is a sea-change in the thinking of the U.S. people and our political leaders.

Harvard University Stands Up to Illegal Federal Government Actions

Read letter by Harvard President Alan M. Garner, about the University's stance on the Federal government's illegal actions to force Harvard to give up the school's academic independence and academic freedom.

Trump’s Big Cruel, Deadly Policy Bill is a Healthcare Heist

Outrage is rising against Trump’s “Big Beautiful Bill” that would give massive tax breaks to the rich while slashing Medicaid, nutrition, and clean energy. Some say 14 million people could lose health coverage.

Is FREE Electricity in our Future?

Electricity should be a right, free to all.  Yet, for-profit energy companies set prices to maximize profits to shareholders, even when users can’t afford the prices and suffer shutoffs.

More from the People's Tribune