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May 6
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Bob's avatar

I’m not sure RFKJr should be advising anyone about "brain effects."

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Ken Tingley's avatar

Sorry, not going to allow further disinformation.

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Al Bellenchia's avatar

The NY Times has become the Susan Collins of newspapering. It is “very concerned.”

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Will Doolittle's avatar

That's a good analogy

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Faitz Funny's avatar

So what are the options to fluoride ? Why isn't it well known ?

*fact coming... Fluoride coats the outside of the tooth, haven't used it in years, but what I use isn't available over the counter ? Maybe it is now but last looked it wasn't. . Hydroxyapatite almost does what fluoride does- but it goes inside the tooth to make your teeth stronger, not just sit on top. My teeth are in awesome shape for being a granny. Look it up. It's used in other countries.

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John Casserly's avatar

I’m continually amazed when people really have their “come to Jesus moment “ on the direction that this country is going. Keep up the good work Ken.

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Maureen V's avatar

I am convinced that Republicans are yearning for and hell-bent on returning to the "days of yore" with the passing of such laws.

The "days of yore" when measles, TB, polio, chicken pox, whooping cough and other ailments and diseases were prevalent, especially amongst children.

The "days of yore" when young children labored for hours in unhealthy and unsafe factories, mines and other environments.

The "days of yore" when girls and women were obliged to remain at home, be "domesticated" to bear, raise children, cook, clean and stay in abusive relationships and were looked at with disdain if they sought work or friendships outside their homes.

The "days of yore" when waterways caught fire or had mass killings of fish, waterfowl and destruction of ecosystems because of toxic chemicals being dumped directly into them from factories.

The "days of yore" of acid rain and toxic smog from unfiltered coal burning.

Leading this "Golden Age" movement is Trump and his loyal MAGA minions in all levels of government, federal, state and local.

What's next, the resumption of testing nuclear weapons above ground, water or in the atmosphere? Honestly, I wouldn't put it past them.

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Ken Tingley's avatar

Oh, no! Don't give the current administration any ideas.

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Catherine's avatar

Judd @ Popular Information on Substack wrote an article today about the war on free speech and 60 minutes/CBS. Worth your time to read it. Everyday the trump administration works at warp speed to destroy everything this Country worked hard to accomplish. They are not interested with our health, education, safety or enjoyment. All they care about is money, power and punishment for those who don't think or look like them.

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Mary Ellen Collins's avatar

I moved to California in 1965, and my teeth were saved....I lived in a fluoridated municipality. I've been back in Glens Falls for 9 years, and am about to lose my second tooth. Glens Falls DOES NOT fluoridate the water. this is a travesty, and can't afford to lose any of my teeth. Sooo, what can we do? We have many many individuals wo agree with Robert Kennedy Jr...Soo sad....

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May 6
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Bob's avatar
May 6Edited

Sorry, Nyscof, but I don’t accept medical advice from random propaganda sources like "Nyscof" and "flouridedangers.blogspot"

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Ken Tingley's avatar

The American Fluoridation Foundation posted this about NYSOCF:

The New York State Coalition Opposed to Fluoridation is a small antifluoridation activist group in New York. Neither this group, nor its Director, Paul Beeber, has any qualifications or credentials which accord credence to its opinions or recommendations on a broad public health initiative such as water fluoridation.

Because a disease preventive public health initiative cannot keep up with the increasing incidence of that disease does not mean that the initiative is not effective. Water fluoridation has never been promoted, or expected, to eradicate all dental decay, nor has it ever been expected to compensate for all of the myriad variables which keep this incidence on the rise. It is simply one means to prevent dental decay which has been clearly demonstrated to be effective in countless peer-reviewed scientific studies. The CDC conservatively cites a 25% reduction in dental decay attributable to water fluoridation, with recent studies demonstrating as much as 60% reduction. (1) (2)

A list of effectiveness studies may be found at the end of this document.

This is why we should always rely on science.

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Mary Ellen Collins's avatar

Well, the "North Country" is MAGA territory. How much do they need to lose before they turn on Trump???? This all sits squarely at Trumps feet, and the rest of us have to suffer...

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Mary Ellen Collins's avatar

Congress needs to grow a spine, and impeach the "orange Monster"...If not, then we still have the ballot box in 2026....I have faith in our democracy...

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Margaret Carrol's avatar

Until age 18 I lived in rural Monroe County drinking well water. I had one cavity after another and dreaded those painful trips to the dentist. At age 18 I went to college in Albany and lived in areas with fluoridated water after that. No new cavities. How many painful and expensive trips to the dentist has widespread fluoridation prevented? Countless. The Trump administration is subjecting our children and families to needless pain, expense and poor health based on cockamamie beliefs with no basis in fact.

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Ken Tingley's avatar

I've used well water pretty much my whole life. Been battling cavities my whole life too.

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Janet Flinchbaugh's avatar

The surgeon general of Louisiana is a veterinarian? I love dogs but really a veterinarian deals with animals.. yes I know that animals need their teeth brushed but maybe the fluoride is good for their teeth too.

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Ken Tingley's avatar

To be fair, He has a veterinarian degree uin 1980 and 14 years later got a regular medical license, but I stand by the ruling. He is also a vet.

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Roland Van Deusen's avatar

Today, this is freedom-loving Americans 21st century version of the final battle of the Alamo. Surrender, doubt, etc. are not options. I and every veteran, every GI, took an oath to uphold, protect and defend The Constitution. That oath has no expiration date. Trump left his hand off the Bible January 20th, hoping God, should there be a God, would let him off the hook like the GOP, SCOTUS, corporate media, etc., have done. He "doesn't know" if he should honor that oath. We can do this, together. Letting Trump get away with his crap, complicates the efforts of the VA's new suicide prevention initiative, for which I volunteer, in my old age.

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Susan Andrews's avatar

Well said, Roland.

None of the cable news commentators focusing on tRump’s previous presidential oaths have pointed out that he kept his left arm dangling below his side 3 months ago, after Melania tried to aim the 2 stacked bibles toward him. Like crossing your fingers as a kid, while verbally promising a parent or a nun not to commit another offense, tRump had no intention of living up to the oath of office we took as veterans.

His AI impersonation of himself as Pope over the w/e, coupled with the myriad of reckless delusions of grandeur, often equating himself as a non-religious Higher Power, would have earned him a psych admission to the Presidential Suite at Bethesda Naval Hospital a few decades ago. As a mentally incompetent President he continues to fit the criteria for activation of the 25th Amendment…

Last night on MSNBC Lawrence O’Donnell echoed my thoughts.

But alas, with our current regime of GOP enablers who persist in violating their own previous oaths to the Constitution that will never happen.

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Roland Van Deusen's avatar

Even if he croaked, JD Vance & Mike Johnson would take up the torch. Reading Tim Snyder's ON TYRANNY for 2nd time, I can see the whole MAGA playbook. our potential army of fellow resisters out there should also read, then start brainstorming together on this or other platforms.

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Susan Andrews's avatar

When his book was first published in 2017 I bought multiple copies to give to family/friends and donated one to our local Senior Center. It’s so small in size, yet immense in its historical chronology of the evolution of autocracy. He was interviewed frequently back then by Rachel Maddow, and again before and after this last election A very articulate, brilliant man with a down to earth demeanor who did his best to sound the alarm during tRump’s 1st and now his subsequent presidency.

With this 50th anniversary of the end of the Vietnam War, the lyrics of Peter, Paul and Mary’s “Where Have All the Flowers Gone” have been flitting through my mind lately…”when will they ever learn…when will they ever learn…”

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David A Rynkowski's avatar

Although this comment is not related to the banning, I fell the need to get this of my chest. I found the recent incident of a lady being physically removed from Rep Lawler's town hall by NYS Police extremely disturbing. Has NY turned into a "police state"? Is the Governor going to allow this to become the norm? Freedom of speech comes to mind. A certain political party doesn't feel that it can be criticized or critiqued on the job they are not doing, much like their dear leader. Our own NY21 Rep has not held an open town hall since the beginning of her tenure and in view of the current political climate I don't foresee her doing so in the near future. Perhaps a column with your views on this subject is warranted Ken.

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Tanya Goldstein's avatar

Fluoride can be both good and bad. I grew up in NYC drinking fluoridated water. I had some cavities, but I did inherit what the dentist calls soft teeth from my mom, so probably without fluoride my teeth would have been even worse. Fluoride definitely strengthens teeth, I think there have been enough studies to show that. However…

My daughter was born in Germany while my husband was serving there in the Army. The Army pediatrician had me give her fluoride drops as an infant, and I don’t know if it was my lack of precision in dosing, or maybe the drops were just too strong, but her adult teeth came in with something called fluorosis, which is caused by too much fluoride. Mild cases, like she has, cause white mottled spots on the teeth which are mainly a cosmetic issue, and the teeth are indeed very resistant to tooth decay. Moderate to severe cases are not so benign, causing brown mottling and brittle, crumbling teeth. Fluoridating drinking water is usually done at pretty low concentrations, but the dose would be dependent on how much water you drink, and whether you use fluoride toothpaste and mouthwash too. So there certainly can be some debate on whether or not to add fluoride to public water systems. Some areas of the country have naturally higher levels of fluoride in the soil and water, so that should be taken into account as well.

Fluoride can affect thyroid health, too, because it can suppress thyroid hormone production, by mimicking iodine, a necessary nutrient for your thyroid. It actually used to be used as a treatment for overactive thyroid. As a person with an underactive thyroid, I have been avoiding fluoride for years. And yes, my teeth have suffered, but it is easier to manage my thyroid symptoms without it.

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Deborah Weiss's avatar

Regarding Flouride there may be some evidence to suggest that flouride in drinking water is not helpful. However, having a

deleterious impact on IQ when ingested via DRINKING WATER does not mean flouride doesn't have benefits when being used in toothpaste for example, in which the flouride is not injested.

I'm a BlG fan of Dr. Greger who backs up his work with scientific research. He has changed his views on Flouride in drinking water over the years. You can see what he has to say here if you're interested:

https://nutritionfacts.org/video/medicines-response-to-the-changing-science-on-fluoride-safety/

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