Letters to the Editor Policy

The Good-For-You Poison

It is an internationally recognized poison - slightly less toxic than arsenic - that is added to 70 percent of the nation's water supply. This tainted water then finds its way into virtually everything we eat and drink.

Have cereal lately, seafood, or produce? Brush your teeth? Use an oral rinse? Did you have a fruit drink, soda, coffee, tea? Maybe some soup? How about a glass of water? Was your food prepared in a Teflon-coated pan? If yes, then you're on your way to overdosing on fluoride - if you're not already there.

In 1945, Grand Rapids, Michigan, was the first city to have its water supply fluoridated. One part per million (ppm) of fluoride was assumed to be safe. Initially, the results were so promising that after only 5 years it became the official policy of the U.S. Public Health Service. This was before the long-term health effects, the data, and the experiment itself, could be properly assessed.

First, the Grand Rapids' experiment did not distinguish between the uses of water fluoridation and topical application. Second, of the 79 schools in the trial area, only the children from 25 hand-selected schools were examined. And third, the experiment was headed by H. Trendley Dean, DDS, who later admitted under oath that his data purporting to prove the efficacy of fluoridation was false.

Ten years into the fluoridation trial, an ominous mottled black and white staining, and cracking and pitting of the teeth started to appear in the Grand Rapids' children: dental fluorsis.

As the years passed, more and more adverse effects of fluoridation became evident: increased risk of bone fractures, decreased thyroid function, arthritic-like conditions, extreme fatigue, muscular weakness, physiological changes that mimic accelerating aging, osteosarcomas, and neurological dysfunction.

Dr. Phyllis Mullenix and her collaborators conducted animal experiments that linked fluoridation as a possible cause for I.Q. deficits. These results were replicated by Chinese investigators. Bill Osmunson, DDS, discovered a direct association among states with high levels of fluoridation and mental retardation.

A fundamental assumption that should be rethought is the so-called “safe” level of 1 ppm of fluoride to water. Fluoride is a cumulative toxin. Safe levels do not exist. Yet it is estimated that the total amount of fluoride ingested daily by the average person is 7 to 8 times the assumed safe level.

The CDC found that 32 percent of American children have dental fluorsis. This is much more than the cosmetic problem it was once supposed to be. It is a permanent adverse structural change to the teeth and possibly to the entire skeletal system. The future for these children is disturbing.

A Harvard study found a 5 to 7 fold increase in osteosarcoma (a malignant bone cancer) in young men who consumed fluoridated water in their childhood years.

Even the truism that fluoride prevents tooth decay is suspect. Dr. John Yiamouyiannis examined the data compiled from 40,000 children. He concluded there was no difference in tooth decay among fluoridated, nonfluorided, and partially fluoridated communities.

The New Zealand National Health Service examined the teeth of 60,000 children. It found that children in nonfluoridated cities faired slightly better than those in fluoridated cities.

In the largest U.S. study of fluoridation and tooth decay, 39,000 school children from 84 widely dispersed areas showed virtually the same amount of decay in fluoridated and nonfluoridated areas.

In India, Prof. Teotia and his team studied more than 400,000 children for 30 years. They found that tooth decay increased in direct proportion to fluoride ingestion.

Little wonder that fluoridation has been banned in China, Austria, Belgium, Germany, Denmark, Norway, Sweden, The Netherlands, Hungry, and Japan.

Fluoride is not a nutrient, not a vitamin, and some forms of it are toxic industrial waste products. The initial euphoria that led to its ubiquitous use is increasingly coming under question.

Reach though we may for the magic pill to cure disease or the equally elusive potion to eliminate tooth decay, they will forever be beyond our grasp. Yet the means to prevent tooth decay are conveniently at hand.

Consider eliminating all fluoridated products, especially toothpastes (1,000 ppm) and oral rinses (10,000 ppm). Both have exceedingly high concentrations of fluoride some of which is absorbed in the buccal mucosa and sublingually. Cut back on surgery foods and beverages. And practice oral hygiene.

Sincerely,

Bob Scroggins

New Milford, PA

Universal, Not Reversal

Universal Health Care has been on the back burner for a long time, but it's starting to boil over now.

First mentioned by Harry Truman over 60 years ago, it was even suggested by Nixon. Then President Clinton made an earnest effort to make it a reality. Back in '94, the effort was beaten back primarily by the Insurance Industry, who spent a lot of money to poison people's minds against it.

Now President Obama has taken up the task again. And the reaction we've seen has an anger that wasn't there in '94. Constituent meetings are turning into unruly mobs. This time, in addition to the Insurance Industry protecting their profits, the counteroffensive is being sparked by ideological interests whose objective is to crush the Obama Administration in general, inciting the rabble and activating the Lunatic Fringe. They hope they can get another chance to run things, a chance that must be based only on default, given the failed policies of the previous eight years. Have we forgotten so soon?

Those who are out to derail the process toward Universal Health are not being constructive, bur rather obstructive. All of them should be forced to provide their solution to the problems of 45 million without coverage, to Emergency Room abuse, to skyrocketing costs, to policies being canceled when needed. (We already have rationing, folks - it's the Insurance companies that do it.) Or they should preface their objections by saying, "I don't want everyone covered - I want to leave millions in the cold. I want people bankrupted by catastrophic costs. And I want health care for private profit, not human need. I only care about me, and I'm all right, Jack!" Then and only then should their voices be heard, which we can then take with a Pillar of Salt.

But let's be civil, please. We do not need to degenerate into Mob Rule.

Sincerely,

Stephen Van Eck

Rushville, PA

Unashamedly Pro-Life

The rankle of the debate in our country over the 1,008 page Health Care Bill proposed by the new Administration shows the fear and anxiety of both sides of this debate. I have always been and always will be, first and foremost and unashamedly pro-life. There are many questions I have concerning the things proposed on that basis. First of all on page 401 of the bill there is a mandate for end of life government counseling every 5 years after the age of 65. Does anyone seriously think they will counsel us to continue expensive health care if we are ill? Such counseling is something that should be left to family and pastors.

Although President Obama assured the Pope that he wanted to lessen the number of abortions performed in the U.S., when the pro-life representatives tried to include a provision in the bill that abortion not be included in this "health care" bill, it was voted down by the opposition, and in July a White House adviser admitted their Comprehensive Health Care Plan 'might' include tax payer abortions unless there is language in the bill to prohibit such abortions. In Michigan where a bill very similar to the proposed Federal Bill has been in force, a woman can get an abortion for $50 and a small co-payment. As in the 5th Chapter of Daniel, the handwriting is on the wall.

Besides the life issues many things in this bill frighten me. There is a provision on page 16 that would force you out of your private insurance plan and on page 435 there is a provision that allows government to garnish your bank account to pay for medical procedures.

When I called Rep. Chris Carney I was told he had not decided how he would vote. I personally do not think this vote should be too hard to decide for the good Catholic Christian he claims to be. If you agree with me please politely tell him so.

Sen. Bob Casey and Sen. Arlen Specter were just as evasive. The August recess is a good time to attend their scheduled public meetings and express your opinions. Times and dates can be found on the web. Contacting their local offices and encouraging others to do so is also a very good idea. If enough people speak out perhaps those who support this massive spending/far left plan in an effort to fix the problems with our health care system will come to listen to the voice of the people. Alternative and very good plans do exist which do not threaten our economic health or change our entire moral outlook on the dignity and right to life of each human. All that is required for evil to succeed is for good men to do nothing. But please remain calm and polite.

Sincerely,

Annette Corrigan

Jackson, PA

Freedom Lost, Part III

“There ain’t no such thing as a free lunch.” The title of a book published by the Nobel winning economist Milton Freedman in 1975, delves into the fact that somewhere, at sometime, someone is going to have to pay for the free lunch. America, as the most blessed nation ever seen in the history of the world, is behaving more and more as if it is living proof that a free lunch is ours for the taking. But step back a moment. You are all aware that we do not have in place the mechanism to pay for the social programs we currently enjoy. Social Security and Medicare are the two most widely known. Both are underfunded for the long term. Our budget deficits are going through the roof with no attention being paid to the inevitable consequences of living beyond our means. Take a look around you to see what can happen to a family who behaves like our government does. How many homes must be foreclosed, how many jobs must be lost, how many lives must be ruined before we say “No More!” Today (Saturday, Aug 8), I read how Congress has appropriated several hundred extra million of your dollars to purchase three extra airplanes which the Department of Defense did not want. Two of them are the newest generation of the posh Gulfstream corporate jets. Why? Why it just seems that members of Congress just didn’t have enough jets to go around. Did you know that eleven members of Congress a short time ago decided that a junket to check out “Climate Change” (you know, that thing that has been going on since the creation of planet earth). So they took a trip which even took them to the South Pole (with a side trip to check on the penguins). It only cost a mere $500,000 of your hard earned money. This is the tip of the iceberg.

I find it unconscionable that the Congress is willing to foist the free lunch on the people (in order to win their votes) with no regard for the fact that our grandchildren (or our children) will be facing the economic reality that will eventually come to pass. Our government is already monetizing the debt, that is, the Treasury is borrowing from the Federal Reserve, who, in turn, prints money at will, contrary to our Constitution. Inevitably, this will lead to rampant inflation - perhaps soon. The gall of all this is that our Congress passes laws for us common folk but exempts themselves from the bad effects and grants themselves special privileges not available to us. Did you note that our Imperial Congress intends to exempt themselves from the wonderful government controlled health care system which they are busily crafting “for us.” Lucky us. Not only can we look forward to long waiting periods for medical care and a burgeoning national debt, but in the twilight time of our life, we can expect that our care will be rationed due to some “financial crises,” coupled with our diminished contribution to society.

People, pay close attention to what is happening within our government. Republican or Democrat - they are not public servants, they are self serving parasites (not all, thank God, but way too many). When election time comes, listen not to what they say but rather take a close look at what they did (voted for). Then, turn the rascals out.

Sincerely,

Joe McCann

Elk Lake, PA

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