Flint shows failures of public sector

The editorial cartoon that ran in the Jan. 25 edition of the Observer-Reporter implies that the water in Flint, Mich., would have been lead-free and safe if only there had been enough rules and regulations in place. This is totally backwards. In fact, all of the needed rules already existed; but a series of government agencies chose not to follow the regulations that they wrote, and which are imposed on others.
The residents of Flint have been buying water from the private sector for months. They know that bottlers and retailers protect their reputations and their profits by providing safe products. Yes, the private sector makes food-safety mistakes and sometimes takes unacceptable shortcuts. But it is much easier for consumers to hold them accountable – ask Chipotle – than it is to hold government agencies responsible for their failures. Ironically, the residents of Flint are now being provided with bottled water, paid for by the city’s taxpayers, but bottled by private-sector companies that follow regulations.
Any society, especially a complex modern society, needs to establish some standards of behavior. Some of those rightly become laws and government regulations. Even ardent libertarians understand that. But maybe we should try nonregulatory solutions for many issues. Thousands of large and small businesses would expand, if regulations didn’t prevent them from doing so.
If a bottler like Coca-Cola drew water from any source, sold it to the public without testing the final product for lead, and then continued to sell it after lead content was confirmed, all while publicly denying the problem, they would be facing both civil and criminal charges. But Flint’s citizens have very few options for justice because they got their water from a government agency that they entrusted with that responsibility. Worst of all, their children face a lifetime of physical and mental challenges.
Kathleen Smith
Canonsburg