Yes means No

When you read the text of Healdsburg’s Measure P, it’s clear that, compared to the wording of most ballot measures, YES means NO and NO means YES. Please follow on with me and come to your own conclusion.
Most ballot measures propose changes to the status quo relative to the issue in the measure. Should we pass a new bond issue? Should we institute a new regulation. Should we pass a new sales tax? Should we outlaw smoking in public places? In general, if you are opposed to a measure’s proposed change to the status quo, your normal reaction would be a “NO” and you would accordingly vote a “NO.” If you’re supportive of the proposed change, you would react positively and vote with a “YES.”
Curiously (or intentionally?) Measure P’s wording is backwards from normal. This measure states “Shall the city of Healdsburg “continue” (emphasis by me) to fluoridate its water?” This wording actually maintains the status quo. A more conventional wording in line with the examples above would ask “Should the city of Healdsburg “discontinue” fluoridating its water? With this latter, more conventional wording, if you were opposed to a status quo change you would vote “NO” and if supportive, you would vote “YES”. In my view, this backwards wording will only serve to confuse voters.
Moving to the substance of the measure itself, after researching the evidence and the unsupported claims by the proponents of banning fluoridation, I have concluded that there’s no scientific basis to discontinue this practice in our city.
Fluoridation started about 70 years ago in January, 1945 in Grand Rapids Michigan. By the year 2000, 42 of the largest U.S. cities fluoridated. According to the CDC, by 2008, about 72 percent of all U.S. cities fluoridated. The dental benefits are well documented. As a result, I fully agree with Rollie Atkinson’s recent editorial in our Healdsburg Tribune which concludes that there’s no persuasive evidence to discontinue fluoridation in Healdsburg.
I suggest you do your own research and vote accordingly.
Once you decide on your position, when you vote, just remember that for Measure P, compared to most measures, YES means NO (you “DON’T” want to change the status quo) and NO means YES (you “DO” want to change the status quo.
Mel Amato is a Healdsburg resident.