I think a unanimous vote sends a good message. The anti-fluoride folks are the same people who think power lines cause cancer, etc., etc. Schwarzwald peasant paranoia masquerading as enlightened concern: should be ignored.

I'm also curious about any referenda they're going to file. Sounds like the earliest will be 2014? That's great. By that time, fluoridation will be an accomplished fact, and its opponents will be trying to take dental health away from poor children, all for superstitious reasons.

No, this isn't purely democratic. Folks need to realize that democracy is more a liturgy than a recipe, it needs to be interpreted. It's waaay too easy for people to be confused, propagandized, and just not have the time or smarts to properly understand issues. A system where people elect representatives just works better, as long as safeguards are in place to prevent corruption.

THIS IS WHAT FLUORIDATION LOOKS LIKE

Prohibition would solve a lot of health problems. Banning gambling/lottery would put more food on poor families' tables. Morning calisthenics would do us all some good. The council has a lot of work ahead of it.

Don't equivocate, fluoridate!

Public vote? Hells to the no....it would be roundly voted down, just like it has been three times before. What else can we expect from a Mayor who brought in the Joint Terrorist....I mean Terrorism Task force, and conspired with 16 other Mayors across the country to coordinate a goon squad crack down of Occupy?

So if there's such a "dental health crisis" in Portland like the fluoride lobbyists are claiming (nice banner by the way Merc), why are they basing that claim by comparing statewide numbers for Oregon with other states?

They like to say children in Oregon have the "fifth worst teeth in the nation". Gee, if that's the case than why aren't they using Portland metro's readily available dental health numbers? Hmmmm, could it be because when compared to other states Portland kids actually rank as having the 15th lowest cavity rate in the US even when compared to states that are heavily fluoridated?

http://www.cleanwaterportland.org/wp-conte…

I think the real "crisis" here is that the City Council weren't going to have big enough houses by the time they left office.

Anyway, "fluoridated" is too hard to spell. Just call it "Leonardized."

"The anti-fluoride folks are the same people who think power lines cause cancer, etc., etc."

This is a flat out lie and indicative of the type of BS the City Council fell for. The vast majority of nations on this planet have banned fluoridation of water. This list of nations includes Germany, Sweden, Netherlands, Russia, Japan, China, ... and many more.

So, these nations are all wing-nut conspiracy theorists?

Your straw man arguments are so tedious.

Germany has all of their power-lines underground, I now know why.

People make fun of Strawman arguments all the time. But he always seemed like the best character from Wizard of Oz, I don't see how he could fail so easily.

If tapwater is an appropiate conduit for public health interventions, then why not add multi-vitamins while we're at it?

Demondog - that's because continental Europe fluoridates salt, not water.

If you want to avoid cavities, you'll need to brush your teeth and see a dentist from time to time. Fluoride will not save you or anyone else from cavities by itself. Do I think fluoride is a threat? I'm not sure, but the $5 million price tag is definitely a threat. So is the half million a year upkeep fee for something you should be applying by yourself with a toothbrush. They should have spent the money on a 'Toothpaste for Tots' campaign or something instead of spiking the water with something so controversial in a state that (along with Europe) rejects at every opportunity.

Why do we even elect representatives if we want to vote on every goddamned thing? That's not how our country is supposed to work. We, the people, elect representatives who work on our behalf. We are free to petition them accordingly, and if we're dissatisfied with their representation, we can vote them out.

If we're going the direct democracy route, we could save a lot of time and money by abolishing representatives altogether and decide everything via American Idol-like text message voting.

Fucking internet. Fucking google. Everyone's a goddamned scientist, doctor and lawyer all rolled into one. Everyone's opinion matters because they're special and unique. Leave policy decisions to the people we hire to decide those things. Otherwise, what are they even there for?

Fruit Cup, I reject your Strawman comment in Toto.

LawyerPepper: yes, they fluoridate salt, which is a very different thing than water. The point is they banned fluoridated water. BANNED. Made it illegal. Because they felt it was harmful. The pro-fluoride advocates would have you believe that only tin foil hat people are against fluoride in public drinking water, but the fact is the vast majority of nations BANNED it.

The vast majority of nations on earth is not a lunatic fringe.

Help us out... What are some cities we can move to Sapir refuse to let this city sap and impurify all of our precious bodily fluids?