Hamilton fluoride referendum - Trevor Crosbie
Dear Editor
Waikato DHB chief executive Craig Climoe is wrong if he thinks the fluoride referendum vote outcome is a mandate to reinstate water fluoridation. His DHB spent $2000 for each vote in favour while the no fluoride group spent $1 per vote. He should also consider that for the claimed $47000 expenditure the DHB lost 2.2 percent of the vote from the previous referendum while the anti vote went up by 2.5 percent.
Not only that but the DHB was unable to enthuse the 70000 voters who did not participate and the 11000 who did that fluoride in their drinking water is essential to their health and wellbeing.
The DHB campaign was notable by its refusal to debate the issue or produce any evidential foundation to their ‘safe, beneficial and cost effective’ message and unfortunately 23000 people have now decided on behalf of all the other 100+ thousand Hamiltonians to restart treatment for a disease without the informed consent of those being treated. That is not a fair, transparent, democratic or ethical process by any definition.
23 percent of eligible voters saying yes is not a mandate to do anything Mr Climoe.
Trevor Crosbie
ENDS