THIS WEEK ON TO THE CONTRARY.•• FIRST, OLDER WOMEN CHANGING THE FACE OF THE AMERICAN WORKFORCE.

THEN, FINANCIAL SUPPORT FOR UN WOMEN.

BEHIND THE HEADLINES: MEET THE STAY-AT-HOME MOM HAILED AS ONE OF THE HEROES TO EMERGE FROM THE FLINT WATER CRISIS.

HELLO, I'M BONNIE ERBE.

WELCOME TO TO THE CONTRARY, A DISCUSSION OF NEWS AND SOCIAL TRENDS FROM DIVERSE PERSPECTIVES.

UP FIRST, THE CHANGING LABOR MARKET.

THERE'S A MAJOR DEMOGRAPHIC SHIFT IN THE US WORKFORCE.

THE NUMBER OF WOMEN 65 AND OLDER WORKING TODAY IS INCREASING WHILE ALL OTHER CATEGORIES OF WORKERS ARE SEEING DECLINES OR REMAIN FLAT.

ONE IN SEVEN OLDER WOMEN WORK TODAY, COMPARED WITH ONE IN 12 IN 1992.

AND THE LABOR DEPARTMENT PROJECTS THAT NUMBER WILL BE ONE IN FIVE BY 2024, OR SIX-POINT-THREE MILLION WORKERS.

THE REASONS ARE A MIXED BAG.

THEY INCLUDE CHANGES IN THE PENSION SYSTEM, INCREASED DEBT DUE TO THE RECESSION BUT ON THE PLUS SIDE MANY OF THESE OLDER WOMEN WORKERS SAY THEY STAY ON THE JOB BECAUSE THE WORK IS REWARDING.

ECONOMISTS AND POLICYMAKERS ARE RESEARCHING THE IMPACT OF THIS TREND ON THE JOB MARKET.

THEY WANT TO KNOW IF THERE'S A CONNECTION BETWEEN THE INCREASED NUMBER OF OLDER WOMEN IN THE WORKFORCE AND SLUGGISH WAGE GROWTH.

SO, IS THE FACT THAT MORE WOMEN 65 PLUS ARE REENTERING THE WORKFORCE OR STAYING IN THE WORKFORCE A FOOD THING OR A BAD THING?

>> IT IS A GOOD THING FOR WOMEN THAT ARE HEALTHY AND A BAD THING FOR WOMEN THAT ARE NOT HEALTHY WHAT ARE DOING IT BECAUSE THEY CANNOT MEET THEIR FINANCIAL NEEDSISM I THINK IT IS A GOOD THING.

MEN AND WOMEN ARE ALL LIVING LONGER, RETIRING AT AT 60 IS NOT WHAT IT SHOULD BE.

>> YOU ARE SEEING DIFFERENT OPPORTUNITIES FOR WOMEN TO WORK BEYOND 65.

>> WHY ARE THEY BEING PAID LESS THAN OTHER SECTORS OF THE ECONOMY?

I MEAN IF IT IS SUCH A GREAT THING WHY IS THERE THE WAGE GAP?

>> THAT IS A TOUGH QUESTION TO ANSWER IT'S DIFFICULT TO UNDERSTAND.

>> I THINK IT'S BECAUSE AGEISM IS REAL.

THE DAY OF AN OLDER WOMAN CAME TO PICK ME UP IN THE UBER AND THE WHOLE FIVE MINUTES I WAS DEBATING WHETHER I SHOULD CANCEL OR NOT.

AND WHAT IF SHE CANNOT WORK HER GPS?

>> THAT IS AGEIST.

>> AGAINST SEXISM.

>> AND I CALLED MYSELF OUT.

I CALLED MYSELF OUT.

I AM LIKE THAT IS SO AGEIST AND SHE WAS GREAT.

>> I HAD AN UBER DRIVER WHO WAS THE SAME WOMAN -- SHE WAS RETIRED AND I GOT TIRED OF MY KIDS CALLING ME WANTING ME TO BABYSIT SO I DO THIS BETWEEN 10 AND 2:00 P.M. AND LIKE IT'S I MEET GREAT PEOPLE AND MAKE EXTRA MONEY I'M NOT SITTING AT HOME.

I LOVE THIS.

THERE IS A LOT MORE OF THOSE JOBS NOW THAT PEOPLE -- >> TECHNOLOGY.

>> THAT PEOPLE CAN MAKE A CHOICE.

>> IS IT ALL TECHNOLOGY?

>> I THINK IT IS A BIG PART OF IT.

>> THERE IS A VARIETY OF ISSUES AND THE FACT IS THAT MANY OF THE WOMEN WERE AT HOME RAISING THEIR KIDS AND THEY JOINED THE WORK FORCE LATER THAT IS WHAT THE STUDIES ARE SHOWING.

WHEN YOU JOIN THE WORKFORCE LATER -- >> REJOIN.

>> MANY REJOIN OR JOIN.

AND SO THERE ARE GOING TO BE ENTERING AT A LOWER SALARY WHEN THEY REACH THAT AGE THEY ARE BEHIND AND THAT IS PART OF THE PROBLEM.

AND THE OTHER PROBLEM IS SAVING FOR RETIREMENT.

PARTICULARLY THE SECTOR OF DIVORCED WOMEN RAISING THEIR KIDS BY THEMSELVES AND UNABLE TO SAVE FOR RETIREMENT THEY ARE FACING THE OLDER AGE SHOWING WITH A LOT OF DEBT IN THEIR HOUSE.

THEIR HOUSES ARE NOT PAID THEY HAVE MORTGAGES AND THEY DO NOT HAVE ENOUGH RETIREMENT.

THEY HAVE TO WORK.

NOT BECAUSE THEY ARE BORED AT HOME.

THEY HAVE NO CHOICE.

>> DO YOU KNOW WHAT PERCENTAGE?

IN THE REPORT IT SAID THEY ARE GOING BACK BECAUSE THEY WANT TO WORK.

>> ABSOLUTELY.

ABSOLUTELY.

AND REMEMBER, THE ACTUAL PERCENTAGE BUT, YEAH, I AGREE IT IS A COMPLEX ISSUE BUT THERE IS AN IMPORTANT ISSUE FOR THOSE THAT DO NOT HAVE A CHOICE AND THAT IS WORRISOME.

>> PATRICIA MAKES A GOOD POINT ABOUT THE FINANCIAL MANAGEMENT AND THE SAVINGS RATE HAS BEEN LOW.

IT PEEKED AT 17% AND THE AVERAGE AVERAGE FAMILY HAS FOR OR 5% IF I DO NOT A GOOD ACCOUNT AND THE FLEXIBILITY TO SAY I CAN RETIRE AND I DON'T HAVE A GREAT 401K I AM LIMITED TO NOT HAVE TO STAY IN THE WORKFORCE AS LONG AS POSSIBLE.

WOMEN ARE MAKING TOUGH CHOICES.

AND YOU ARE LOOKING AT REPUBLICANS LOOKING AT WAYS TO NAVIGATE THIS AND THAT HAS TO DO WITH PORTABILITY.

>> I MUST SAY THAT I AM SHOCKED ABSOLUTELY SHOCKED AT WHAT HAS HAPPENED TO SAVINGS AND PEOPLE IN MY GENERATION A COLLEAGUE CLASSMATE AT AN IVY LEAGUE SCHOOL DIED OF BRAIN CANCER AND HE WAS PENNYLESS.

HE FREELANCED FOR MAGAZINES AND STOPPED WORKING AND JOINED THE 99% AND OCCUPY WALL STREET MOVEMENT.

AND THINKING HOW DO YOU GET INTO YOUR 60s WITH NO MONEY IN THE BANK?

>> A LOT OF THE PEOPLE ARE RECOVERING FROM THE FINANCIAL DISASTER.

SO I THINK WE HAVE TO TAKE THAT INTO CONSIDERATION.

>> BUT THIS WAS NOT ONE OF THOSE.

THIS IS A GUY WHO LIVED ON THE EDGE... >> SOME PEOPLE MAKE POOR CHOICES.

SOME OF IT -- >> I.

>> AND THAT IS THE POINT WHAT PERCENTAGE DO WE KNOW OF PEOPLE WHO END UP IN RETIREMENT HAVE IVY LEAGUE CAREERS, AND GREAT EDUCATIONS, AND THEY OR GOOD EDUCATIONS OR DECENT EDUCATIONS.

>> BONNIE... >> AND THEY STILL DO NOT THINK ABOUT SAVING.

I REMEMBER SAVING FROM MY FIRST JOB IN THE 70s WHEN I WAS MAKING $13,000 A YEAR.

>> WELL, THIS IS LOOK AS A COUNTRY WHEN WE HAVE SAID WE ARE GOING TO TAKE CARE OF YOU AND SOCIAL SECURITY WILL BE THERE AND WE DO NOT REMIND PEOPLE THAT WAS NEVER SUPPOSED TO BE WHAT YOU RETIRE ON.

MANY PEOPLE THAT IS WHAT THEY END UP WITH AND REALIZE THAT PEOPLE LIKE I SAID PEOPLE ARE LIVING LONGER.

AND THIS IS NOT JUST AN INDIVIDUAL ISSUE LIKE TODAY.

AS A COUNTRY WE HAVE TO DEAL WITH THE FACT THAT PEOPLE RETIRINGALITY 62 AND GOING ON SOCIAL SECURITY AND LIVING TO BE 85 IS ROBBING THE NEXT GENERATION.

WE CANNOT KEEP DOING THAT OR THEY ARE NOT GOING TO HAVE ANYTHING EXCEPT DEBT.

>> BUT EDUCATION, I MEAN SHE IS RIGHT.

WHY AREN'T HIGH SCHOOL CLASSES RUNNING OR MIDDLE SCHOOL CLASSES.

>> I ABSOLUTELY AGREE WITH YOU.

I FEEL I HAVE A 16-YEAR-OLD DAUGHTER AND TRYING TO FIND OUT IF I CAN GET A FINANCIAL MANAGER COME TO MY HOUSE AND TEACH HER AND ME AND ME, AND I'M LUCKY BECAUSE I HAVE BEEN WORKING FOR A LONGTIME AND THE INFRASTRUCTURE OF MY EMPLOYER PROVIDED ME WITH WHAT I NEED FOR RETIREMENT.

BUT IT IS A COMPLEX ENVIRONMENT AND IN THIS ERA OF PEOPLE BARELY MAKING IT TO PRETEND THEY ARE GOING TO BE SAVING AND DOING 401K'S AND BUILD A POLICY THAT IS NOT REALISTICKIC.

>> PEOPLE USED TO DO IT.

>> THAT IS WHAT I'M SMILING WHEN YOU SAY THIS BUT I'M THINKING FOR ME WHAT DID IT WAS A FEAR OF GETTING OLD AND POOR.

I MEAN FROM THE BEGINNING OF -- I DID NOT HAVE A FINANCIAL EDUCATION.

EVEN MY PARENTS DID NOT TEACH ME TO SAVE.

I DON'T KNOW WHERE I GOT IT FROM.

BUT FROM -- AND I GOT OUT OF GRADUATE SCHOOL YOUNG BUT FROMMED BEGINNING I WAS AFRAID OF GETTING OLD AND POOR.

>> THAT IS FOR US IT'S ABOUT PERSONAL RESPONSIBILITY.

AND JENRATIONAL MILLENNIALS MAYBE THEY ARE IN A DIFFERENT PLACE.

BUT THE PRIMARY FOCUS TO KEEP US OUT OF SITUATIONS WE WILL BE IN AS RETIRED TO BE OLDER AND POOR IS GOING TO BE A WAY TO START PEOPLE SOONER DOWN THAT PATH OF SAVING THEIR MONEY.

>> GOOD POINT.

LET US KNOW WHAT YOU THINK.

PLEASE FOLLOW ME ON TWITTER @BONNIEERBE.

AS WOMEN'S HISTORY MONTH AND INTERNATIONAL WOMEN'S DAY APPROACH, UN WOMEN, THE AGENCY ADVOCATING FOR WOMEN'S ADVANCEMENT, KNOWS WELL WHAT WOMEN NEED.

BUT EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR PHUMZILE MLAMBO-NGCUKA SAYS WHILE THE UN BUREAUCRACY SAYS IT'S FOR WOMEN'S RIGHTS, THE BUDGET SAYS OTHERWISE: >> THE FACT THAT THERE IS NO COUNTRY THAT HAS ACHIEVED GENDER EQUALITY EVEN THOUGH WE'VE BEEN SO BUSY SHOWS THAT THE CHANGE HAS NOT BE DEEP ENOUGH AND STRATEGIC ENOUGH 7:24 THE FACT >> THE UN SET GOALS IN ALL AREAS FOR NOT JUST EVERY WOMAN, MAN AND CHILD, BUT FOR EACH COUNTRY TO ACHIEVE.

IN THE PAST, THOSE GOALS TARGETED POOR COUNTRIES.

BUT NOW MLAMBO-NGCUKA, SAYS GENDER DISCRIMINATION IS ALIVE AND WELL IN DEVELOPED OR WESTERN COUNTRIES, TOO.

>> WHAT WE HAVE TRIED TO DO IS TO LOOK ACROSS THE BOARD IN EVERY SPHERE OF LIFE WE ADDRESS GENDER INEQUALITY BECAUSE IT IS A VERY COMPLEX PROBLEM AND IT REQUIRES COMPREHENSIVE SOLUTIONS.

>> SO GENDER IS INCLUDED IN ALL 17 GOALS SET UP BY THE UN.

GOAL NUMBER FIVE FOCUSES DIRECTLY ON IMPROVING THE LIVES OF WOMEN AND GIRLS.

>> GOING FORWARD IT IS ABOUT INTENSIFYING IMPLEMENTATION.

WE ARE FOCUSING ON WHAT IS MEASURABLE.

>> BUT ACHIEVING THESE GOALS COULD PROVE CHALLENGING BECAUSE THE UN IS NOT FULLY FUNDING UN WOMEN.

>> THERE'S ROOM FOR MORE SUPPORT.

THE UN IS THE MEMBER STATES, IS THE 190 WHATEVER COUNTRIES THAT MAKE UP THE UN THEY ARE THE ONES THAT PROVIDE THE FUNDING THAT MAKES US DO OUR WORK.

RIGHT NOW WHEN WE WERE FOUNDED AS UN WOMEN WE WERE EXPECTED TO HAVE A BUDGET OF 500 MILLION US DOLLARS PER ANNUM.

>> THE BUDGET HAS BEEN CLOSER TO 300 MILLION WHICH UN WOMEN SAYS SPEAKS VOLUMES.

>> IF THIS WAS ONE OF THE IMPORTANT ISSUES MONEY WOULD TALK, POLITICALLY WE GET A LOT OF SUPPORT BUT WHEN IT COMES TO INVESTMENT I THINK MEMBER STATES THINK WE SHOULD DO A CAKE SALE THE WAY WOMEN RAISE MONEY.

THEY DON'T UNDERSTAND THAT GENDER EQUALITY IS EXPENSIVE IF YOU REALLY WANT TO DO IT WELL.

>> ALL RIGHT, YOU SAY THE WORD U.N. TO POST PEOPLE AND THEY OWE HE MOST PEOPLE TUNE TO ANOTHER CHANNEL.

AMERICANS DO NOT CARE MUCH ABOUT THE UNITED NATIONS.

EXPLAIN TO WOMEN WHO ARE WATCHING AND MEN, WHY THIS IS IMPORTANT?

>> IT'S IMPORTANT BECAUSE THE U.S.

PLAYED A CRITICAL ROLE CREATING THE U.N.

BUT ONE OF THE LARGEST COUNTRIES THAT PAYS THE MAJORITY OF THE U.N.'S BILLS.

BUT IN BEING SPECIFIC WITH U.N. WOMEN WHAT IS A BIG ISSUE IS THAT WHERE IS THE MONEY?

TO QUOTE JERRY McGWIRE YOU GOT TO SHOW ME THE MONEY.

IT'S GREAT THAT WE HAVE GOALS TO IRRADICATE SEX TRAFFICKING AND VIOLENCE AGAINST WOMEN BUT WE NEED FUNDING AND A SPECIFIC STRATEGY.

AND YOU KNOW IT'S PAINFUL TO CRITICIZE THE U.N. BECAUSE I'VE WORKED WITH THE U.N. AND WORKED FOR THE U.N. AND THEIR INTENTIONS ARE SO GOOD AND THEIR EXISTENCE IS SO IMPORTANT AND WE ALMOST NEED A BETTER BUSINESS STRATEGY AND FUNDING THE U.N.

CANNOT BE OPTIONAL AND WE RELY ON DONATIONS FROM MEMBER STATES.

ARE YOU KIDDING ME?

WE NEED A BUDGET.

AN OLD MENTOR OF MINE USED TO SAY THAT WOMEN DO NOT ASK FOR ENOUGH MONEY.

AND WHEN YOU ARE DEALING WITH THE GOVERNMENT YOU HAVE TO ASK THEM FOR DOUBLE BECAUSE THEY WILL GIVE YOU HALF.

>> WHAT DOES IT SAY ABOUT THE U.N. AND THE GOOD PEOPLE UP THERE, MEN AND WOMEN RUNNING THE AGENCY DID NOT FULLY FUND IT?

>> IT'S CRAZY.

YOU CUTOFF -- WHEN THEY WERE LAUNCHING U.N. WOMEN IT WAS SUPPOSED TO BE AMAZING WE WERE PUTTING TOGETHER ALL THESE WOMEN'S AGENCIES TOGETHER UNDER ONE FLAGSHIP.

BUT WHAT IS THE POINT IF THERE IS NO MONEY?

>> I MEAN I FEEL LIKE WE ARE TALKING ABOUT THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT HERE.

BECAUSE IT'S GOTTEN SO BIG IT TRIES TO DO SO MUCH AND THERE ARE ONLY SO MANY DOLLARS.

AND I AM NOT A HUGE FAN OF THE UNITED NATIONS I WILL BE CLEAR ABOUT THAT BUT THEY CAN DO GOOD THINGS BUT IF YOU TRY TO DO EVERYTHING AND YOU ARE GOING TO FUND EVERYTHING AND YOU DO NOT HAVE A BUDGET AND THERE'S QUESTIONS OF ACCOUNTABILITY WITH THE U.N. LIKE QUESTIONS HOW WELL THE GOVERNMENT SPENDS MONEY WHEN IT'S TRYING TO SOLVE A PROBLEM.

I DO KNOW IT DOES NOT SPEND THE DOLLARS IT'S GIVEN AS WELL AS IT COULD AND SHOULD BUT THE REALITY IT'S TAKEN ON WAY TOO MUCH AND YOU GET IN ALL THE DEBATES WHAT IS THE PRIORITY AND PEOPLE DISAGREE.

>> IT IS NOT THE MOST EFFICIENT SYSTEM AND THE FACT THAT THEY ARE NOT INVESTING IN AN IMPORTANT PRIORITY WHICH IS WOMEN EQUALITY AND IMPROVEMENT OF THE WELL-BEING OF WOMEN AND GIRLS IS TRAGIC.

AT THE SAME TIME THERE IS A -- -- THIS IS NOT A WASTE OF TIME.

THERE IS A PURPOSE BECAUSE IN THE UNITED STATES WE DO NOT PAY ATTENTION TO THE U.N.

BUT AROUND THE WORLD THEY DO CARE ABOUT HUMAN RIGHTS TREATIES AND AROUND THE WORLD THEY CARE ABOUT UNICEF.

AND THE U.N. AND THEIR PROGRAMS CAN IMPACT AND I SEE IT BECAUSE I WORK INTERNATIONALLY THAT WE USE INTERNATIONAL TREATIES TO PUT PRESSURE POLITICALLY AAT THE LOCAL LEVEL AND WE HAVE GOOD RESULTS AND SAYING THEY ARE CALLING FOR WOMEN TO HAVE ACCESS TO EDUCATION AND ACCESS TO JOBS AND TO HAVE ACCESS TO BEING ELECTED IN COUNTRIES.

>> WITHOUT BEING BEATEN.

>> IT IS NOT INCONSEQUENTIAL IF YOU ARE IN THE COUNTRIES -- >> AND LET'S POINT OUT THAT IN TERMS OF UNITED STATES INFLUENCE GLOBALLY IT'S REALLY IMPORTANT AS WE BECOME MORE OF A GLOBAL WORLD, IT'S REALLY IMPORTANT FOR US TO HAVE INFLUENCE AND IF WE ARE NOT FUNDING THE U.N., THAT IS ONE OF THE WAYS WE ARE LOSING INFLUENCE.

BECAUSE COUNTRIES ONLY CARE ABOUT HOW MUCH MONEY THEY GET FROM YOU REALLY.

I'VE BEEN TO 70 COUNTRIES AND YOU KNOW, IN MOROCCO THEY DO NOT GIVE A BIG SELL CONTRACT TO A U.S. COMPANY BECAUSE THERE WAS A FRENCH COMPANY AND FRENCH USED TO BE A FRENCH PROTECTER AND THE FRENCH POUR BILLIONS INTO MOROCCO AND SO THE CONTRACT WENT TO A FRENCH COMPANY.

AND THIS IS A LOSS OF U.S. JOBS.

>> WELL IT'S IMPORTANT FOR THE U.S. TO INVEST IN THE U.N. AND I THINK ONE OF THE THINGS I HEARD IS ABOUT STRATEGY.

AND THERE DOESN'T SEEM TO BE A STRATEGY HOW TO USE THE MONEY THEY HAVE AND WHAT TO DO WITH IT.

IN MY MIND YOU LOOK AT LABORATORIES.

>> WHAT THEY ARE DOING, BECAUSE THIS IS IMPORTANT FOR VIEWERS.

THEY ARE GOING AROUND THE WORLD AND GETTING DATA.

THEY ARE RATING COUNTRIES IN TERMS OF HOW WELL THEY TREAT WOMEN AND HOW WELL WOMEN DO THERE.

AND IF YOU DO NOT HAVE THE DATA YOU CANNOT MAKE THE COMPARISONS.

AND THE WESTERN COUNTRIES EXCEPT FOR THE NORDIC COUNTRIES ARE FALLING BEHIND.

AND EVEN THOUGH AMERICA THINKS IT'S THE BEST PLACE IN THE WORLD FOR WOMEN AND I AS A WOMAN WOULD RATHER LIVE HERE AND PROUD TO BE AN AMERICAN BUT THE FACT IS WE ARE FALLING BEHIND WHERE WE WERE 20 YEARS AGO IN TERMS OF GENDER PARITY.

>> AND ONE OF THE ISSUES RAISED IN THAT DATA WAS TALKING ABOUT ECONOMIC EQUALITY AND WOMEN HAVE TO LOOK AT DIFFERENT WAYS AND DIFFERENT COUNTRIES THAT IS MORE PRESSING.

WE HAVE A DIFFERENT SITUATION HERE IN THE UNITED STATES WITH BARRIERS AND THAT WAGE GAP BUT WE ARE LOOKING AT OPPORTUNITIES FOR EQUALITY THAT COULD UPLIFT THINGS UP AND FIX HUNGER AND DISCRIMINATION ISSUES.

>> AND THE NEXT TOPIC...

BEHIND THE HEADLINES: THE WATER CRISIS IN FLINT.

AS THE SITUATION GETS THE ATTENTION OF PRESIDENTIAL HOPEFULS IN MICHIGAN PRIOR TO THE PRIMARIES, FLINT RESIDENTS STILL CAN'T TRUST THEIR TAP WATER.

WE SPEAK WITH THE MOM WHO HAD TO BECOME A WATER SAFETY EXPERT TO PROTECT HER CHILDREN.

>> THERE WAS A BUNCH OF US THAT BROUGHT IN DISCOLORED WATER WHEN I WAS SHOWING THEM MY WATER I WAS TOLD BY THE MANAGER MANAGER THAT I WAS A LIAR AND STUPID.

I WAS A LIAR IF THEY THOUGHT IT WAS MY WATER AND STUPID THAT IT CAME FROM MY TAP.

>> LeANN WALTERS IS A STAY AT HOME MOTHER OF FOUR AND HER FAMILY IS AFFECTIONED BY THE TOXIC WATER IN FLINT MICHIGAN.

>> WE HAD RASHES, HAIR LOSS, DIZZINESS, HEADACHES AND ONE OF MY CHILDREN WAS NOT GROWING PROPERLY.

HE WAS BREAKING OUT WITH SEVERE RASHES.

WE KNEW SOMETHING WAS GOING ON.

AND THE ONLY THING MAKING SENSE WAS THE FACT THAT BY JANUARY MY WATER WAS BROWN CONSISTENTLY.

>> YET THE GOVERNMENT DENY TO DO AND TRIED TO ABSOLVE ITSELF OF ANY RESPONSIBILITY.

WALTERS SAYS SINCE THE CITY SWITCHED WATER SOURCES, 12,000 CHILDREN HAVE BEEN EXPOSED TO ALL MANNER OF HEALTH PROBLEMS INCLUDING LEAD POISE ESPECIALLYING.

ONE OF THE CASES WAS GAVIN ONE OF WALTER'S FOUR-YEAR-OLD TWINS.

THE CITY SAID THE PROBLEM WAS IN WALTER'S HOME ONLY AND THEY SOUGHT PAYMENT TO INSTALL A SERVICE LINE THEY CLAIMED WOULD FIX THE ISSUE.

>> THEY WERE TRYING TO CONVINCE ME TO SIGN A CONTRACT THAT I DID NOT AGREE WITH.

THEY WANTED ME TO PUT A NUMBER ON WHAT MY SON'S LEAD POISONING IS WORTH.

HOW DO YOU DO THAT?

HOW DO YOU PUT A NUMBER ON YOUR CHILD BEING POISONED.

WHEN I WOULD NOT SIGN THE CONTRACT THEY SAID THEY WOULD HATE TO SEE SOMETHING HAPPEN TO MY CHILDREN BECAUSE I WOULD NOT PUTTING MY CHILDREN'S INTEREST FIRST.

BECAUSE I WAS ALLOWING THE LEAD TO COME IN MY HOUSE.

AND I SAID ARE YOU.

MY WATER DID NOT HAVE THIS PROBLEM.

>> WALTERS SOUGHT OUTSIDE HELP AND WAS IN TOUCH WITH THE ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY AND SEVERAL RESEARCHERS AND DOCTORS.

IN THE PROCESS, SHE BECAME AN EXPERT IN WATER QUALITY.

>> WHEN I REALIZED THE SEVERITY OF THIS, I MADE SURE IT WENT PUBLIC BECAUSE PEOPLE HAD A RIGHT TO KNOW THEY WERE BEING HARMED.

>> WITH THE HELP OF WATER EXPERTS WALTERS RAN TESTS THAT VINDICATED HER STORY AND WALTERS SAYS THE GOVERNMENT HAD TAKEN SHORTCUTS TO MAKE THE WATER APPEAR SAFER THAN IT WAS.

>> THEY FALSIFIED DOCUMENTATION TO MAKE IT LOOK LIKE THEY WERE DOING OK SO THEY WOULD NOT GET HIT WITH A VIOLATION.

>> WALTERS TESTIFIED BEFORE CONGRESS FOR THE NEED TO ONCE AND FOR ALL SOLVE THE CITY'S WATER PROBLEM.

THOUGH THE FIGHT IS NOT OVER, SHE IS HAILED AS AN EVERYDAY HERO.

SHE TELLS OTHER WOMEN TO FOLLOW THEIR INSTINCTS.

>> IF SOMETHING DOES NOT SEEM RIGHT AND SOMEONE IS NOT BEING HONEST DO YOUR RESEARCH AND ANYBODY CAN MAKE A DIFFERENCE IF YOU WANT TO.

>> THE SENATE RECENTLY REACHED A DEAL TO HELP CITIES LIKE FLINT REPLACE THEIR AGING PIPES.

THAT IS THE PROBLEM AND CHANGING THE SOURCE OF WATER.

IS THIS -- THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT DOING ENOUGH TO HELP?

>> WELL, IT MAY HELP WITH THIS ONE PROBLEM IF THE PIPES ARE THE PROBLEM.

BUT, LOOK, WHAT HAPPENED IN FLINT AND FLINT MICHIGAN IS NOT THE ONLY PLACE A NEW CASE CAME OUTCRIES TALL CITY, TEXAS SIMILAR PROBLEM HERE.

AND GWEN, SAME PROBLEM FAILURE AT THE LOCAL LEVEL AND SPHALLER AT THE STATE LEVEL AND FAILURE AT THE EPA LEVEL IN TERMS OF DEALING WITH THE PROBLEM.

AND WE TURN TO THE GOVERNMENT TO FIX IT AGAIN ALTHOUGH THEY HAVE FAILED EVERY SINGLE LEVEL AND WE ARE ASKING THEM TO DO IT AGAIN.

>> HOW COULD THE PRIVATE SECTOR FIX THIS?

YOU WOULD HAVE TO GET -- PAY TO DO IT AND WHO WOULD PAY TO DO IT?

>> ONE OF THE PROBLEMS HERE THEY WERE THREATENING HER I WOULD LIKE TO SUE WHOEVER WAS IN CHARGE OF THAT WATER PLANT.

SOMEBODY SHOULD BE GOING TO JAIL BUT YOU CANNOT SUE THE EPA, RIGHT?

AND THIS IS A PROBLEM.

EVEN THOUGH THE EPA ITSELF HAS SUED PLENTY OF PRIVATE COMPANIES WHEN THEY CLAIM OH, YOU WERE IN THIS MINE SYSTEM AND YOU CAUSED A WATER PROBLEM THEY SUE THOSE COMPANIES BUT YET THEY TAKE NO RESPONSIBILITY.

>> SOME OF THE RESIDENTS OF FLINT KNEW THAT THE WATER SOURCE SHIFTED WAS THAT RIVER USED TO BE A TOXIC WASTE DUMP FOR GENERAL MOTORS.

I HAVE TO SAY THIS IS SHOCKING THAT THIS IS HAPPENING IN AMERICA.

CLEAN WATER ACCESS, THIS IS STUFF THAT HAPPENS IN DEVELOPING COUNTRIES.

I WAS SHOCKED.

SHOCKED READING ABOUT IT.

>> I THINK PEOPLE FEEL LIKE THERE IS A BASIC RIGHT TO HAVING CLEAN WATER IN YOUR HOME IN THE UNITED STATES AND IN THE WORLD AND ONE OF THE THINGS THIS IS A HUMANITARIAN CRISIS THIS IS NOT REPUBLICAN OR DEMOCRAT AND NOT RICH AND POOR BUT AN ISSUE I IMPACTING THOUSANDS OF PEOPLE.

>> IS THAT WHY THE SENATE WAS ABLE TO COME TO AN TOGETHER -- >> HOPEFULLY, YES.

YES.

>> THIS ONE SMALL EXAMPLE OF BIPARTISAN POLITICS COMING BACK?

>> YES, ABSOLUTELY.

ABSOLUTELY.

AND YOU KNOW LET'S GIVE CREDIT TO VIRGINIA TECH THEY HAVE AN ENVIRONMENTAL ENGINEERING PROGRAM AND THEY CAME IN AND EXERCISED A LOT OF LEADERSHIP AND GUIDED HER.

SHE IS A WELL-KNOWN HERO.

AND I THINK YOU CANNOT YOUR GOVERNMENT HAS TO FUNCTION.

WE HAVE TO BE ABLE TO LIVE IN COMMUNITY AND THIS IS AN EXAMPLE OF DYSFUNCTIONAL GOVERNMENT AND I DO NOT THINK TURNING TO THE PRIVATE SECTOR WOULD HAVE SOLVED THIS PROBLEM.

WE NEED TO TAKE OUR GOVERNMENT SERIOUSLY.

EVERYBODY NEEDS TO BE BLAMED, THE GOVERNOR, THE EPA I WILL BLAME THEM ALL AND ASK THEM TO WORK TOGETHER AND FIX THE PROBLEM.

>> YOU CANNOT SUSTAIN A COUNTRY BECAUSE WE ARE GOING TO TURN INTO THE DEVELOPING COUNTRIES THAT WE LIKE TO COMPLAIN ABOUT.

>> I'M SAYING THE GOVERNMENT HAS TO BE HELD ACCOUNTABLE AND PART OF THE PROBLEM IS IT WENT ON FOR SO LONG BECAUSE IT WAS GOVERNMENT.

>> I WANT TO GO BACK YOU CAN SUE INDIVIDUALS CAN SUE THE FEDERAL AND STATE GOVERNMENTS.

THERE ARE BARS YOU HAVE TO OVERCOME BUT -- >> HIGH BARS.

>> BUT IT'S NOT ACCURATE THAT YOU -- >> NO, BUT IT'S HARD TO DO THAT AND IN THIS CASE WITH THE EPA AND OTHERS THEY DO NOT HOLD THEIR OWN PEOPLE RESPONSIBLE THAT IS MY POINT.

IS THAT IF YOU ARE GOING TO GO THAT ROAD WE WILL HAVE MORE PLACES LIKE THIS HAPPENING IT WILL NOT JUST BE FLINT OR CRYSTAL CITY TEXAS.

>> AND THE ACCOUNTABILITY SYSTEM FOR THE GOVERNMENT -- >> THIS WOMAN IS A HERO.

AND SOMEONE SHOULD BE ABLE TO HELP HER FIGURE THIS OUT.

>> GO MOMS!

>> IF THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT DEAL IS TO REPLACE THE PIPES, HOW MUCH OF THIS IS AN INFRASTRUCTURE PROBLEM?

>> IT IS A HUGE INFRASTRUCTURE PROBLEM.

IF YOU LOOK AT THE RATINGS BESIDES THE BRIDGES AND ROADS ALL THESE THINGS A TRILLION COULD GO TO FIXING THE LEAD PIPES IN THE COUNTRY AND THAT IS A LOT OF MONEY THAT WE NEED TO ADDRESS.

>> AND ALSO WHAT ABOUT RACE?

WHEN YOU LOOK AT THE TIME LINE HOW LONG THIS IS HAPPENING IF THIS WAS A NEIGHBORHOOD OR AREA OF LARGELY WHITE PEOPLE AND YOU KNOW, MODERATE MIDDLE CLASS WHITE PEOPLE WOULD THIS HAVE BEEN ALLOWED OR OCCURRED?

41% OF THE POPULATION OF FLINT ARE LOWER INCOME BLACK FAMILIESMENT I THINK RACE HAS A LOT TO DO WITH IT.

I DON'T KNOW WHY EVERYONE IS IGNORING IT.

>> WHY DO YOU THINK THEY ARE IGNORING IT.

>> I'M TALKING ABOUT US TODAY.

THAT IS WHY I'M BRINGING IT UP.

>> POOR COMMUNITIES THAT YOU ARE RIGHT THEY ARE THE ONES THAT GET FIRST BECAUSE THEY OFTEN DO NOT HAVE SOMEONE ADVOCATING FOR THEM.

AND SHE ADVOCATED ON BEHALF OF HER COMMUNITY.

I THINK THE INFRASTRUCTURE THING AMERICA IS GETTING OLDER.

WE ARE OLDER.

OUR COMMUNITIES ARE OLDER NOW.

AND OUR INFRASTRUCTURE IS GETTING OLDER AND THE PROBLEMS AGAIN STATES TO A GREAT EXTENT AND LOCAL COMMUNITIES HAVE GIVEN THAT RESPONSIBILITY TO THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT TO KEEP IT FIXED AND IT'S NOT GOING TO WORK.

IT'S PEOPLE IN THE COMMUNITIES THAT NEED TO BE IN CHARGE OF IT.

THAT'S IT FOR THIS EDITION.

PLEASE FOLLOW ME ON TWITTER AND VISIT OUR WEBSITE, PBS-DOT-ORG-SLASH-TO-THE-CONTRAR Y WHERE YOU CAN LEARN ABOUT THE TO THE CONTRARY INAUGURAL FILM FESTIVAL WHICH COINCIDES WITH THE BEGINNING OF OUR 25TH SEASON ON PBS.

WHETHER YOU AGREE OR THINK, TO THE CONTRARY, SEE YOU NEXT WEEK.

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