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Sparks fly at second fluoridation discussion
Opposing panelists and audience exchange words during debate
By Daniel Hindin
Tempers flared at the Oct. 19 fluoride debate. The second of two debates centered around Sunnyvale's Nov. 7 ballot Measure S. The meeting provided viewers with little new information but a lot of excitement.
The first debate on Sept. 22, consisted of several timed arguments from each side and public comment. The Oct. 19 debate featured a shorter period of timed arguments, with much of the focus placed on public questions posed to a panel of experts comprising each side of the fluoridation debate. After each question, mediator Elaine Marley of the League of Women Voters allowed each side three minutes to respond.
The pro-fluoridation panel consisted completely of government officials: Jack Walker, vice mayor of Sunnyvale; Dr. Donald Lyman, a state official who is an advocate of fluoridation; Bernice Bokadeko, Santa Clara County Health Department official; Dr. David Nelson, fluoride consultant to the state Department of Health Services; Howard Pollack, professor at the University of California School of Dentistry and vice chair of the Fluoride Task Force. The anti-fluoridation panel included two members of Citizens for Safe Drinking Water, Maureen Jones and David Lamar, and Dr. Cindy Russell, chair of the Santa Clara County Medical Association.
Panel members often used the three-minute response time more to present their side of the argument and discredit their opponents, rather than specifically answering the questions from the audience.
Addressing fluoridation proponents, Russell argued the fluoridated water from drinking systems eventually flowed out into rivers and oceans.
"These large amounts of fluoride kill fish," she said. "Many salmon aren't able to swim upstream to spawn. If you want to kill all of the salmon off, that's what you're going to do."
To this, Nelson responded, "I like to kill salmon. I like to catch them and eat them."
The audience frequently argued with the panelists, as well. The debate guidelines provided one minute for each audience question, after which the inquirer was to return to his seat and listen silently to the responses. However, in many cases the inquirer did not return to his seat and interrupted the responses by the panel. Mediator Marley found it necessary on at least two occasions to remind members of the audience of how they should conduct themselves.
During the debate, Sunnyvale resident Warner Gans told the panels that he grew up in Chicago, a fluoridated city. "If fluoridation is so bad, why haven't I experienced any affects from it?" he challenged the anti-fluoridation panel. "Where's your proof?"
Fluoridation consultant/panel member Nelson added, "You keep talking about how bad fluoride is for people. We want your proof. Show me the bodies!" he yelled into his microphone. "Show me the bodies!"
Much of the debate centered on both sides quoting numerous studies which they said supported their allegations. The anti-fluoridation side referred to many different studies but conceded they were unable to provide hard copies of any of them studies for the audience or pro-fluoridation panel. Instead, the anti-flouridation contingent said they could show them letters written by important members of the medical field. Eventually, Jones told Gans that if he gave her his address, she would send him dozens of studies.
The pro-fluoride side also didn't provide any studies for the audience to view. Lyman repeatedly waved a notebook that he said was full of studies. When he was asked to show them, he said that he didn't have the authorization to do so. However, he continued to wave the same three-ring binder in response to multiple questions.
Despite the fact that both sides didn't provide copies of the studies that they quoted repeatedly, Sunnyvale voters will make a decision on Nov. 7.
For more information on fluoride, visit the City's website at ci.sunnyvale.ca.us or the Citizens for Safe Drinking Water's website at nofluoride.com. The debate aired live on KSUN Channel 18 and will be repeated on Fridays, at 7 p.m. and Sundays, at 5 p.m.
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Sunnyvale, California Since 1994
