From Debra Fairbanks
Monticello
To the editor:
On Wednesday, Oct. 28, I attended a free screening of the PBS Frontline documentary "Big Sky, Big Money" at the Monroe Public Library. This event was jointly sponsored by City of Monroe United to Amend and Green County United to Amend. There were approximately 20 people in attendance and popcorn, beverages and candy were provided.
Beyond an enjoyable night out, the film was very educational and timely in light of recent legislative goings-on in our state Capitol. It showed how Citizens United v. FEC undid a century-old campaign finance law in Montana that had helped keep politics in that state pretty darned clean. Montana fought back against the 2010 Supreme Court decision when floods of untraceable, out-of-state money started pouring in, flooding Montana airwaves and mailboxes with the most despicable of attack ads. The Supreme Court refused to hear Montana's case and a 100-year tradition of clean elections was swept away.
As thought-provoking as the documentary was, the discussion that followed was truly amazing. It was so inspiring to hear others voicing the same things I've been thinking for so long. We are the government. The people should rule in a democracy. And yes, we do want to know who funds our political candidates. This is something that any citizen should agree on. I strongly urge you to attend future United to Amend events in Green County. Check gcuta.org and watch the Monroe Times' Community Calendar for the next documentary screening. And, as Siskel and Ebert used to say, "See you at the movies."
Monticello
To the editor:
On Wednesday, Oct. 28, I attended a free screening of the PBS Frontline documentary "Big Sky, Big Money" at the Monroe Public Library. This event was jointly sponsored by City of Monroe United to Amend and Green County United to Amend. There were approximately 20 people in attendance and popcorn, beverages and candy were provided.
Beyond an enjoyable night out, the film was very educational and timely in light of recent legislative goings-on in our state Capitol. It showed how Citizens United v. FEC undid a century-old campaign finance law in Montana that had helped keep politics in that state pretty darned clean. Montana fought back against the 2010 Supreme Court decision when floods of untraceable, out-of-state money started pouring in, flooding Montana airwaves and mailboxes with the most despicable of attack ads. The Supreme Court refused to hear Montana's case and a 100-year tradition of clean elections was swept away.
As thought-provoking as the documentary was, the discussion that followed was truly amazing. It was so inspiring to hear others voicing the same things I've been thinking for so long. We are the government. The people should rule in a democracy. And yes, we do want to know who funds our political candidates. This is something that any citizen should agree on. I strongly urge you to attend future United to Amend events in Green County. Check gcuta.org and watch the Monroe Times' Community Calendar for the next documentary screening. And, as Siskel and Ebert used to say, "See you at the movies."
