I shamed a few friends Tuesday night because they didn’t vote,
and in Maryland we did. Three different people said, my “I voted” sticker made
them feel guilty. I responded accordingly, “It should. They are stripping away
voting rights, and by not voting you’re making it easier for them.” One friend
launched into how women fought hard for the vote, but I was referring to the
dismantling of the Voting Rights Act of 1964.
I mention this because people forget the limiting of our
rights until all of a sudden you don’t have them anymore. For example, I learned water wasn’t
a right when Mexico asked the U.S. stop damming the Colorado River. The U.S.
effectively said, f you guys, we do what we want and sign this five-year
agreement. Of course, the UN acknowledged water as
a human right in 2010.
However, according to Elliot
Hannon, the United Nations is now fielding calls from residents of Detroit
as city officials begin shutting off water to residents behind on their
payments. Detroit is obviously in a lot of financial trouble. So you’re like,
but Kari, this is what happens to people who don’t pay their bills. And I am
going to glare at you for a bit and wonder why we’re friends before pointing
out half of Detroit’s residents (323,900) are in a delinquent status.
Additionally, the average water bill in Detroit is $40, which is double the
national average while the city council approved a 9 percent increase. Because nothing
says representation of the people like price gouging them.
A coalition of activists groups in Detroit are appealing to
the United Nations High Commission for Human Rights saying:
“We are asking the UN special rapporteur to make clear to the U.S. government that is has violated the human right to water,” according to Maude Barlow, the National Chairperson of the Council of Canadians who has assisted in putting together the coalition. “If the U.S. government does not respond appropriately this will also impact their Universal Periodic Review when they stand before the Human Rights Council to have their [human rights] record evaluated.”
Yes, the U.S. is denying water rights to impoverished
citizens. Get ready, it looks like we’re entering into this dystopian future
all the YA authors have been writing about. I wish I were kidding about this
too, but with the rise of our oligarchical government and the restriction of
thing people need to survive, I’m not all too sure I’m being hyperbolic
anymore.
**BA pointed out that people behind on their bills can be placed under arrest and imprisoned because debtors' prison worked so well last time.
**BA pointed out that people behind on their bills can be placed under arrest and imprisoned because debtors' prison worked so well last time.
