Winter Haven’s fluoride decision based on flawed research
As a retired dentist who practiced in Polk County for almost 40 years, I was shocked to see that the Winter Haven City Commission voted to discontinue adding therapeutic levels of fluoride to its water supply.
Over 80 years of research and experience has shown oral fluoride in the proper level to be the safest, most effective and economical way to prevent tooth decay, the most prevalent disease known to man, and is needed today more than ever due to our high-sugar diets.
It is most effective when given from birth to age 14, while the teeth are forming, so that it is incorporated into the tooth structure. Topical fluoride, like in toothpaste, is not nearly as effective at preventing cavities.
Are we going to listen to educated health professionals, or to those who quote faulty research and “alternate facts”? What is next—stopping childhood vaccinations for diphtheria, whopping cough, and polio?
The truth is millions of lives have been improved by following true science instead of listening to quackery. With the internet, there is no reason we cannot all research the science and think for ourselves logically, instead of listening to those who will send our health back to the Middle Ages.
Charles Fort, Fort Meade
Letter from commissioner:Winter Haven’s decision on fluoridated water came after months of discussion
Worried about election security? Observe the Canvass Board
Over the last few years, Floridians have been increasingly concerned about election security. Many fear that elections may no longer be free and fair.
For residents of Polk County who still have concerns one way to allay fears is through observing what goes on in the Supervisor of Elections office before, during and after an election by attending meetings of the Canvass Board as an observer.
There are no qualifications for attending these meetings which cover everything from pre-election machine checks to mismatched signatures, overvotes, voter intent, overseas ballots and provisional ballots.
The Canvass Board for the 2024 Election is composed of two judges and a sitting member of the Polk County Commission. The board meets in one room while members of the public observe through class windows in a separate room.
There are microphones so that observers can hear the discussion and ballots decisions are displayed on an overhead projector. Usually, an SOE staff member or the Supervisor of Elections herself is present to explain what is going on and to answer questions.
Being an observer is an excellent experience and hopefully one that will serve to increase confidence in the integrity of the Polk County election system.
Jo Shim, Lakeland
Voice of the People (Oct. 27, 2024):Predatory pricing in senior communities?
Florida lawmakers should listen to the 57% on abortion access
Democracy works in unique ways, but the most significant is when the voters speak, their representatives should act in favor of the voters’ choice. We do not expect representatives to uphold the losing vote count over the winning one, and we cry foul when that happens.
Which means something interesting must happen in Florida over the next legislative session: Our state legislators should work to find a proper compromise over reproductive rights in this state.
The voters spoke clearly, so it makes no sense for legislators to uphold the six-week abortion ban, given that more than 57% of voters saw it to be unfit.
Yet, in fairness (an ill use of that word here, I’d say) to the amendment process, there were not enough votes to pass Amendment 4. So there is no need for the legislators to enact policy that protects abortion rights up to viability.
However, if they do not act to repeal the six-week ban and find a suitable compromise, say the 15 week ban our supreme court found legal last spring, then our legislators are not doing their job.
Their job is not to uphold the minority but rather to follow the lead of the majority.
Ben Graffam, Lakeland
Voice of the People (Oct. 20, 2024):Retired generals have free-speech rights too
An issue with columns
It must be nice to be a liberal opinion writer for the Lakeland Ledger. Every week, R. Bruce Anderson is given space for many hundreds of words to opine on any liberal topic of his choosing. The rest of us only get 200 words every four weeks to voice our opinions.
With only 200 words available, opinions must be limited to statements/conclusions with very little space for explanation or evidence. There is certainly insufficient space to counter all of the statements made by Anderson.
We all know that Anderson is well educated, but unfortunately that does not make him smart. Why would anyone refer to the incoming governing party’s administration as a “clown act”? What does that accomplish? If he has a particular problem with an aspect of an administration then he should give examples and justification. He certainly has the space. We can adamantly disagree and still be civil.
Perhaps his column is written only for liberals. If that is true, where is the corresponding column for conservatives?
As Anderson’s Nov. 17 column states, change can be good, but I would add: only when the lives of the American people are noticeably improved.
Edward McDonald, Auburndale
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Send letters to the editor to [email protected], or Voice of the People, P.O. Box 408, Lakeland, FL, 33802. Submit on the website at http://tinyurl.com/28hnh3xj, or go to TheLedger.com, click on the menu arrow at the top of the website and click Submit a Letter. Letters must be 200 words or less and meet standards of decency and taste.
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