Daily Camera Letters to the Editor - Oct. 28

October 28, 2006

WATER

Don't be fooled by foes' claims

The "No" on 2B campaign repeatedly claims in yard signs that you should not be "deceived" by the Clean Drinking Water Initiative. Notably, Larry Sarner of Loveland, who heads up the "NO" on 2B campaign and doesn't have to drink our unsafe water, makes this same claim about the entire field of progressive medicine.

Mr. Sarner is the "science" chair of a group called Quackwatch, whose stated purpose is "to combat health-related frauds, myths, fads, fallacies and misconduct." Quackwatch disseminates articles and staff to combat "quackery," which includes almost every progressive medical activity there is. Quackwatch articles include, "Be wary of acupuncture, Qigong, and Chinese medicine;" "Ayurvedic mumbo-jumbo;" "Chiropractic's dirty secret;" "Osteopathy's dubious aspects" and "Special message for cancer patients seeking alternative treatment," which urges cancer patients to "avoid any 'alternative' cancer treatment," and includes a rejection of the claim that dietary measures or other "alternative" approaches can help treat cancer by strengthening the immune system.

And now Quackwatch believes the wish for untainted water is quackery. Is it any wonder that Mr. Sarner, who doesn't even live in Boulder County, belittles Boulder's concerns about lead and arsenic in our drinking water?

He seems to belittle everything else safe or progressive, basically the whole Boulder culture. Vote for Boulder health and safety. Vote "yes" on 2B.

SARA MIRA
Longmont

This letter has been reprinted with permission from a concerned citizen. It appears above as it originally appeared in the Daily Camera on 10/28/06.