Water Fights

For eons now, liberals have teased conservatives about one thing (well, many things, but I’m thinking of one in particular): the fluoridation of water. “Oh, you work at National Review? What do you do, write editorials denouncing the fluoridation of the water supply?” Ha, ha, ha. (Actually, we spend our time advocating separate lunch counters for Negroes.) In many quarters, “fluoridation of water” is a code word for right-wing kookery.

Well, imagine my surprise—and delight—when I was talking recently with a dentist friend of mine and the subject of water fluoridation came up: “We still have to fight on that, all over the country,” he said. “What,” I said, “you mean the Birchers are still at it?” “Oh, no,” he replied. “It’s the Left. The opposition comes from the environmentalist, earthy-crunchy, sandal-wearing Left.”

About the Author

Jay Nordlinger

Jay Nordlinger was a senior editor of National Review and a book fellow at National Review Institute.

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For eons now, liberals have teased conservatives about one thing (well, many things, but I’m thinking of one in particular): the fluoridation of water. “Oh, you work at National Review? What do you do, write editorials denouncing the fluoridation of the water supply?” Ha, ha, ha. (Actually, we spend our time advocating separate lunch counters for Negroes.) In many quarters, “fluoridation of water” is a code word for right-wing kookery.

Well, imagine my surprise—and delight—when I was talking recently with a dentist friend of mine and the subject of water fluoridation came up: “We still have to fight on that, all over the country,” he said. “What,” I said, “you mean the Birchers are still at it?” “Oh, no,” he replied. “It’s the Left. The opposition comes from the environmentalist, earthy-crunchy, sandal-wearing Left.”