Dear Mayoral candidate,
We are a local group of citizens with an interest in promoting the health benefits of fluoridation.
Could you please respond to these two questions:
(1) Do you support the resumption of fluoridation in Hamilton’s water supply?
(2) If the referendum results in a majority of voters in favour, would you support the resumption of fluoridation?
The opinions of candidates obtained from this canvass will be made known to our members and released publicly.
With regards,
Selwyn June
‘Fluoridate Our Water’
A Campaign for Better Dental Health in Hamilton
Tim Wikirwhi respond’s….
Dear Selwyn,
Q1. I don’t believe my personal opinion about Fluoride is what is important, but there are higher issues/ principles at stake.|Namely it is not the councils job to force medicate the people of Hamilton, which is what the pro-fluoride lobby seems to believe is ok.
My argument is the people who want fluoride in their water can find means of dispensing it into their own supply.
Q2. No! I do not support binding citizen referendums which seek to impose upon the legitimate rights of minorities.
Ref to my answer above.
Fluoridation is one current task which the council can rightly divest itself, and pass on to citizens as a matter of personal choice and responsibility.
Kind regard’s Tim W.
Good answers Tim.
… although, I don’t think this is a straight forward issue.
Councils also add chloride to water.
It is my understanding that Chlorination is to purify the water from pathogens etc to make it safe to drink… not to medicate anyone.
Decay in non-fluoride areas rivals Third World
No one is suggesting that the Hamilton City Council holds a gun to the heads of Hamiltonians to make them drink fluoridated water. Is that what you mean by ‘force medicate’?
But their own supply comes from a tap. If I was a Hamiltonian and wanted fluoride in my water, I’d ask my supplier (the Hamilton City Council) to fluoridate the water.
I don’t see the problem.
Yes, chlorine is added to kill pathogens. It’s not added as a medication but it is something that some people would like to avoid taking (and inhaling in the shower) for their health’s sake.
The water supply where I live has no pathogens – it’s from a natural spring but the council still adds chlorine to the water and treats it with a high powered UV light.
Richard
Here’s the problem…
People are obstructed by councils from setting up their own water supplies.
Damming and drawing water from wells, bores and rivers are all restricted by councils – so while they’re not forcing you to drink their water they are obstructing you from drinking anyone else’s
And Richard, I dont see why the people who want fluoride cant set up their own association and get small dispenser units set up on their side of the non-return on the town water supply.
And what makes you think 3rd world teeth are in poor condition?
I have herd it said that the third world have better teeth than in the west because they dont consume tons of sugar…
Reed, this is a separate issue … well, it is going by Tim’s logic. š
Fluoride is not the bad guy, here tooth decay is ,and fluoride helps prevent it in all level of the population, If you want your family to have big dental bill down the line, say 5 yrs, vote fluoride out. Ask your dentist
Chris
A dentist I use in Cambridge is against adding fluoride to the water. He thinks it lowers people’s IQs.