Short answer: "We know best." That's why I personally have become more and more antipathetic toward "progressives." Seems to me that authoritarianism from the top overrides democracy from the bottom in increasing and pervasive ways. In Portland the suggestion is that this is a tyranny of the ruling faction. It will grow as the ruling bloc does.

I have been shocked at the edicts hammered down in the last few years.

Given the voting history on this issue in the city of Portland it's an outright d*****bag move by Randy and the Fish to act on behalf of the citizenry in this manner.

Read this and ponder...

The Third Wave Experiment

As if an authoritarian, nanny-knows-best is unique to "progressives..." Also, I believe we chose to have a representative democracy. You want a direct democracy? Change the laws. I hope you don't really expect better governance, though.

Did you happen to see that the lobbyists' meetings with City Council members were never put on the councilors' calendars?

http://blog.oregonlive.com/portlandcityhall/2012/10/portland_city_council_calendar.html

Did you happen to see that the lobbyists' meetings with City Council members were never put on the councilors' calendars?

Er, uh, well, you see... even though every City Council member is required to do so by city code, all 5 individually forgot to, you know how busy they are and all, and would you believe it? Even the mayor who initiated the code in the first place, he even forgot too!

Anyone know where I could get 5 pair of jackboots ?
If the mayor nad his lackies on the council are going to act as fascists at least they can dress the part.

I never refer to them as "commissioners" - their heads are big enough already. They are members of Portland City Council - hence they are "Councilors", not "Commissioners". Though "Jesters" is more appropriate in either case.

Which begs the question, if fluoride was such a fine idea, how come Fireman Randy and McCreepy didn't bring it up a decade ago?

"As if an authoritarian, nanny-knows-best is unique to "progressives..." Also, I believe we chose to have a representative democracy. You want a direct democracy? Change the laws. I hope you don't really expect better governance, though."

Authoritarian is not unique to "progressives," but it is antithetical to democracy, representative or direct. Which was my point.

You ask if *I* want a direct democracy; I can ask if you think you have one. Which was my point.

hence they are "Councilors", not "Commissioners".

Is that the third time you've given that speech here? Portland has the city commission form of government. Get over it.

Is that the third time you've given that speech here?

Is there a repetition limit here - 'cause, if so, Max is the least among equals.

Hell, BM repeats himself daily; sometimes within the same post.

I'm over it...

"The Mayor and City Commissioners were elected to represent the best interests and well-being of all of the citizens of Portland."
The problem is Sam-Rand and company only represent their special interests rather than the best interszsts and well being of all the citizens of Portland.

http://www.zerowasteamerica.org/fluoridechronology.htm
Excerpts:
The USPHS campaign has involved literally hundreds of such intrusions on communities, and has become a fine-tuned operation. District health department officials typically contact city councils with a strongly biased sales pitch and promises of federal funding. The attempt is often made to get city councils to vote and rule on the fluoridation issue without a public vote. In some cases, where it is legal, this may involve overriding previous public vote, even though it directly affects all the people in the community on a daily basis.

When a community is overrun by such tactics, the victory often gets wide publicity, as practiced in psychological warfare. Further, there is strong circumstantial evidence that the USPHS campaign includes overturning state laws that interfere with the USPHS "mission". For example, in the State of Washington, the State Code prohibiting city councils from directly overriding previous public vote was successfully used in Spokane in 1984 to stop fluoridation in that city. The following year that State Code was overturned with no motivation from within Washington. When viewed in the larger context revealed in this chronicle, such circumstantial evidence is compelling.

It has been a priority of big industry to settle lawsuits out of court. This prevents legal precedents being set on fluoride damage, which could open the way for further litigation. A good example involved the Troutdale, Oregon aluminum plant east of Portland, which was operated by Alcoa during World War II. After the war some millions in damage suits were filed, and many hundreds of thousands of dollars were paid in settlements from the new renter of the plant, Reynolds Metals Co.

There is much more to read in the above link.
I thought the part about the city possibly getting federal money might have been a huge motivator for the "five" to be persuaded. I still believe they are in greater financial difficulty than they let on, although I wonder why they continue to spend and create more debt. Would this council really be willing to put fluoride into our community for the money and then turn around and tell us it is for our own good?

Please read excellent relevant Oregonian guest editorial today.

http://www.oregonlive.com/opinion/index.ssf/2012/10/what_the_research_says_about_f.html