Move over fluoride, here comes Calgary's clean water!

[frinkprof]

HeartzOfFire, I thought you didn't care about municipal politics and went so far as to say that municipal government doesn't really do anything that you saw as affecting your day-to-day life.

[frinkprof]

Originally Posted by HeartsOfFire

I have found it fascinating that despite not adhering to consensus I continue to have 0 cavities, whereas other people I know DO brush after every meal and still get cavities.

A lot is genetics too.

My mom generally has poor dental health while my dad has excellent dental health despite having relatively equal dental hygiene practices and diets.

Myself and my sister seem to have inherited my dad's strong enamel and good dental health while my younger brother seems to have inherited something closer to my mom's. Again, despite similar hygiene and diets (at least growing up), my sister and I have never had cavities while my brother hasn't been as lucky.

[HeartsOfFire]

Kudos on your excellent memory! Yes indeed, I have in fact said that.

With the removal of fluoride from the water supply, that now changes. This glaring omission now directly will affect my day to day life as I must now figure out the best way to fluoridate my own water.

Additionally, fluoridation was not ever a topic of contention during the mayoral race. It somehow snuck onto Council dockets this month and was hurriedly passed.

This upsets me, because city council is kow-towing to a loud minority of cancerous upstarts that simply won't go away until they win. The first council candidate for Ward 12 that makes re-fluoridation of the city water supply a platform priority gets my vote.

[CaptainCrunch]

I'm not as worried about the removal of Floride, when's the vote to remove the top secret government mind control LSD from the water.

I'm tired of being an unwilling assasin for the government.

[HeartsOfFire]

@CaptainCrunch:

Boy that italian family in the booth is really quiet.

[something]

Through all the BSing and bickering in this thread, have any alternatives occurred to the proponents of flouridation?

I'll admit that I know little on the topic - nothing more than anecdotal evidence portrayed by interest groups on both sides - hardly fit to form a proper conclusion. Nevertheless, I am quite pleased with the councils decision to remove the fluoride from tap water.

It bothers me that even if the majority of citizens want their tap water to be flouridated, I am being coerced to consume the same thing. The tyranny of the majority stands tall in this case.

So my question is simple: are there no reasonable alternatives for the proponents of fluoridation to consume it without imposing their decision on others???

[troutman]

Originally Posted by something

I'll admit that I know little on the topic - Nevertheless, I am quite pleased with the councils decision to remove the fluoride from tap water.

[HeartsOfFire]

Originally Posted by something

So my question is simple: are there no reasonable alternatives for the proponents of fluoridation to consume it without imposing their decision on others???

Not right now, as this decision is so recent. Although I expect that as we draw closer to the valve shut off date, that you'll probably be able to purchase fluoride solutions in 100 ml bottles complete with an eye-dropper.

[frinkprof]

Originally Posted by something

I am being coerced to consume the same thing. The tyranny of the majority stands tall in this case.[/B]

No you are not. No one is coercing you to consume Calgary tap water.

Originally Posted by something

So my question is simple: are there no reasonable alternatives for the proponents of fluoridation to consume it without imposing their decision on others???

My question is simple, and so is the answer to it. Are there no reasonable alternatives for the opponents of fluoridation to consume Calgary tap water?

The simple answer is that yes, there are reasonable alternatives.

[something]

Originally Posted by frinkprof

No you are not. No one is coercing you to consume Calgary tap water.

My question is simple, and so is the answer to it. Are there no reasonable alternatives for the opponents of fluoridation to consume Calgary tap water?

The simple answer is that yes, there are reasonable alternatives.

Oh boy...

Tap water is considered an essential, public resource. Factor that into your thought and provide a more useful response.

[puckluck]

Originally Posted by frinkprof

No you are not. No one is coercing you to consume Calgary tap water.

My question is simple, and so is the answer to it. Are there no reasonable alternatives for the opponents of fluoridation to consume Calgary tap water?

The simple answer is that yes, there are reasonable alternatives.

What are the reasonable alternatives?

[frinkprof]

Originally Posted by something

Oh boy...

Tap water is considered an essential, public resource. Factor that into your thought and provide a more useful response.

There are widely available alternatives to consuming tap water in North America. Providing a service, to which there are widely available alternatives, and coercing people to consume it are two vastly different things.

You can lead a horse to water, but you can't make him drink.

[something]

Originally Posted by troutman

I understand the purpose to your sarcasm.

Nevertheless, think of it this way, do you consider yourself an expert on the consumption of fluoride? Have you formed an opinion?

If the answer is no and yes (as it almost certainly is), then you too, have probably succumbed to fallacious reasoning in this topic.

I suspect that we have arrived at presumably different conclusions based on our values and priorities - not on evidence alone.

Trust me to say that fluoride consumption is not my preference, and without being an expert (as I am wary to think anyone on this forum is a credible expert) I find my laicized conclusion to be adequate.

[Ashartus]

Originally Posted by something

Through all the BSing and bickering in this thread, have any alternatives occurred to the proponents of flouridation?

I'll admit that I know little on the topic - nothing more than anecdotal evidence portrayed by interest groups on both sides - hardly fit to form a proper conclusion. Nevertheless, I am quite pleased with the councils decision to remove the fluoride from tap water.

It bothers me that even if the majority of citizens want their tap water to be flouridated, I am being coerced to consume the same thing. The tyranny of the majority stands tall in this case.

So my question is simple: are there no reasonable alternatives for the proponents of fluoridation to consume it without imposing their decision on others???

There are alternatives - it's just they end up costing a lot more. The reason water supplies are fluoridated is because it is much cheaper than more targeted approaches. It's also a lot easier to control the maximum dose - there's only so much water a person can drink in a day. If you have fluoridated salt, for example, there's a much wider range in how much salt people consume. If you're adding fluoride to your own water it's a lot harder to control the concentration.

Why don't I hear the same people complaining about, for example, folic acid added to flour? There have been studies linking high doses of folic acid supplementation to increased rates of some cancers; I saw one study a couple of years ago suggesting a possible link with increased rates of miscarriage. The amount of flour people consume is probably pretty variable so the dose isn't controlled. (I have no problem with adding folic acid to flour - I just wonder why people against "forced medication" by water fluoridation aren't speaking out against all the other similar things the government mandates).

[frinkprof]

Originally Posted by puckluck

What are the reasonable alternatives?

Really?

If you don't want to consume City tap water, for whatever reason (taste, fluoridation, perceived mind-control conspiracy, whatever), I'm sure you can put in the research so that your needs are served without using it. Some people already do this.

[robocop]

Originally Posted by joe_mullen

would personally be much more comfortable with an expert panel opinion than that of our esteemed council when it comes to public health issues. i am not convinced they are appropriately trained in assessing scientific literature on this matter.

then put fluoride in your own water. I don't give a damn about the health benefits it should be my choice about what chemicals go in my body. I am astounded they actually voted to remove it.

[frinkprof]

Originally Posted by robocop

then put fluoride in your own water. I don't give a damn about the health benefits it should be my choice about what chemicals go in my body. I am astounded they actually voted to remove it.

It is your choice. Unless you have video evidence or several witnesses confirming that you have have been tied down and had to ingest Calgary tap water or any other substance against your will of course.

[YYC in LAX]

Moderators: Can you please add the option, "I don't give a flying ####!" to the poll? Thanks.

[something]

Originally Posted by frinkprof

There are widely available alternatives to consuming tap water in North America. Providing a service, to which there are widely available alternatives, and coercing people to consume it are two vastly different things.

You can lead a horse to water, but you can't make him drink.

I never suggested anyone could be coerced into consuming a public resource. But given it's ubiquity, ease of access, and low price, alternatives are not always feasible given individual circumstances.

Public resources are designated for this purpose. I am not being coerced into consuming tap water, but should I wish to, I am being coerced by what may be understood as the majority decision to consume fluoride.

[robocop]

Originally Posted by frinkprof

It is your choice. Unless you have video evidence or several witnesses confirming that you have have been tied down and had to ingest Calgary tap water or any other substance against your will of course.

so as someone who is in the city living on a students budget that can barely afford to eat food at this point in my life what are my alternatives to tap water? Don't tell me to not spend money on beer or whatever, all I ever buy is food. Unless everybody starts digging their own well it is forced because to some people it is drink tap water or die of dehydration.