The EPA estimates that nine million homes in the U.S. have lead pipes.

"We're here today because we're finally addressing an issue that should have been addressed a long time ago in this country — the danger that lead pipes pose to our drinking water," Mr. Biden said. "For too long, local communities have known how important it was to deal with this problem. It hadn't been given the national priority that it demanded though. I'm here today to tell you that I'm finally insisting that it gets prioritized and I'm insisting it get done."

~ Joseph Biden, next write-in candidate that'll win the next election.

I'm not quite sure what to say to this one. Out of nowhere you're dropping a ten year deadline for upending the entire decaying sewer infrastructure of the U.S in like, the last stretch of your career? The fuck?

  • RedWizard [he/him, comrade/them]
    ·
    2 months ago

    Branch's son Aidan suffered from lead poisoning while they were living in a home with lead in the paint, windows, pipes and soil. Her son's lead levels were so high they had to move out of the home and into a homeless shelter for almost three months while they searched for safe housing. Branch said the experience was terrifying for her son and left him with health issues he will have to face for the rest of his life.

    We live in a insane world. In a just society this wouldn't have happened in the first place. Removing lead from homes and the water supply should have been a government initiative the second an alternative was available.

    Even still, the idea that they had to live in a shelter for 3 months because their landlord couldn't be bothered to remove the lead in the rental is just another example of the vial and callous nature of landlords.

    The Branch's live in a lead paint free home now, but they still have lead pipes.

    "When I first started advocating there was a 50 year plan that went down to a 40 year plan, now there is a nine year plan to remove all the lead pipes in Milwaukee, Branch tells CBS News. "I should be alive to see the lead pipes being removed out of Milwaukee and that gives me hope for other places as well."

    There is still more the Milwaukee community needs to live in a lead-free safe environment: more housing and more clinics.

    Branch says there is not enough safe housing available in the community. Her old home where her son was lead poisoned was still being rented out as recently as a few years ago according to Branch. As for the Next Door Pediatrics Clinic where her son was first tested for lead positioning, it has since shut down, creating a healthcare gap in the community. Branch credits the work of the clinic for her youngest daughter being lead free.

    Again no justice. The landlord wasn't forced to remove the lead from the house, and the local clinic that could diagnose these exposures was shuttered thanks to treating our public services like market services, subject to becoming insolvent and closing, leaving the community in a healthcare shortage. I guess the community should have been sick more often in order to keep the profits high enough to maintain the clinic.

    There is a sense of shame for parents whose children suffered from lead poisoning, but Branch wants to remove the shame from the equation of asking for help.

    "I want them to know it's not on you," says Branch. "We're not receiving justice, And it's a human right to have clean drinking water."

    Personal shame is the default and expected emotion for our collective failings. You should have checked the house for lead. You put your child in danger due to your negligence. You are in charge of keeping your family safe, and no one else!

    This is a manifestation of our hyper-individualist culture in one of its many twisted forms. Only you can prevent your family from getting lead poising!