Democracies and Decision Making: Fluoride Edition

Bull Run Watershed, Courtesy of The Oregonian

The Portland City Council voted to add fluoride to the Portland water system today, thus ending the city’s dubious distinction as the largest municipality in the U.S. without fluoride in its water.  The debate has been heated–just peruse the comments section after stories in The Oregonian.  I’m not interested in rehashing these issues here.

What I am interested in is the claim that the Council’s actions are somehow anti-democratic.  This is a common meme among crotchety local bloggers–Jack Bogdanski for example compares the Portland City Council to North Korea.  74% of readers who answered an online question said that “it is wrong to deny citizens a say in public health decisions.”  

We can put aside the North Korea comparison as typical Bogdanski bluster.  There are numerous democratic mechanisms by which citizens can express their opposition and even overturn this decision.  The Council held a public hearing at which 275 citizens spoke, not counting the innumerable letters and emails.  An petition is already circulating to overturn the decision.  And then there is that odd ritual called an election, when citizens go to the ballot box and choose their political leaders.  You don’t like this decision?  Vote the bums out!  In North Korea, they’d all have long been marched off to a concentration camp or shot.

Ironically, most citizens reject the notion that politicians should blindly respond to public opinion polls.  “Leadership,” we often hear, is in short supply.

Didn’t Mayor Sam Adams and Commissioner Randy Leonard provide leadership in pushing through what they thought was sound public policy, even if a vocal minority is opposed?  Isn’t that was governance is really all about?

And now comes democracy.  The petitioners are circulating their petitions and a mayor and two commission seats are in contention.  Fluoride won’t hit the water for 18 months at least, long enough for opponents to prove their mettle at the ballot box and exercise their power as citizens.

P.S. If there is one thing that was handled incredibly poorly, however, it’s the lack of notification of our wholesale water customers.  Randy Leonard’s leadership on this issue included a sad case of Portland arrogance that will hurt regional cooperation.  Thumbing our nose at our neighbors is seldom a good idea.  Raising the middle finger at them is even worse.

 

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