Comment by alistairSH

21 days ago

But nobody is forced to drink municipal water. You can go to the grocery and pallets of gallon jugs if you prefer.

9 comments

alistairSH

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kebman  21 days ago

Then the community is exactly forcing people to seek other, and way more expensive and way more inconvenient, sources of water. That's the opposite of a freedom.

  • nulbyte  21 days ago

    Why is the city required to provide water in the first place?

    • kebman  9 days ago

      It isn't. But as a society, we voted for providing clean, affordable water to everyone was a public good. That's why municipal water exists.

      The issue arises when that water is fluoridated against the will of a significant portion of the population. It effectively forces dissenters to either accept it or go through the hassle and expense of sourcing their own water — which defeats the original purpose of providing low-cost, universally accessible water.

      Today, the marginal benefits of fluoridation are questionable, especially with fluoride available in toothpaste. So forcing it on everyone, despite objection, becomes harder to justify — and that's why some places have stopped adding it.