Watsonville Calif. is voting on water fluoridation. A fluoridation proponent complains:

William Jarvis liked to put on water fluoridation debates for his students at Loma Linda University's School of Dentistry. He would ask them to vote twice -- before the debate and after.
``We always had people favorable toward fluoridation before the debate and less favorable after,'' said Jarvis, who retired two years ago as professor of public health and preventive medicine.

Debates expose these facts:

1. Scientists no longer believe that they have evidence that fluorization has a systemic benefit. (Ie, the only known benefit is topical, meaning from direct contact between fluoride and teeth, and not from consumption of fluoride.)
   
2. Fluoridation does not benefit those who brush their teeth with fluoride toothpaste.
   
3. At least 10% of the population shows adverse medical effects of consuming too much fluoride.
   

Update: A measure to stop fluoridation passed by 32 votes. The city says that it is going to fluoridate anyway.