President Abraham Lincoln famously stated that ours was a government of, by and for the people. The Montana Green Party takes those words seriously. All too often our state government favors the interests of corporations, special-interests and their own privileges over the interests of the people of Montana. Grassroots democracy is the key to ensuring that decisions are made by the people most affected by them.
All meetings of government, including the State Legislature and its committees, should be open to the public and the media so that the process is transparent and the actions of our representatives are known. Paid lobbyists should not be permitted to purchase legislation through campaign contributions behind closed doors. We oppose the practice of rushing last-minute bills through the process without adequate debate or consideration. The number of bills submitted should be strictly limited to a reasonable number and prioritized so that those addressing pressing needs with the most co-sponsors are given the most favorable consideration.
We believe that government needs to be open to diverse voices; the "two-party system of denial and blame" benefits mainly the wealthy and powerful through the access they can easily buy. The Montana Green Party proposes amending the State Constitution to replace single-member districts with a proportional representation system that will allow significant minority-party candidates a chance to represent their constituencies.
Our freedom and self-government rests on our Constitutions. We are all protected by our Bill of Rights. The liberties protected by these documents are more important than any president or administration and its self-serving policies. We believe that governments at every level -- local, state and federal -- should stand firm in support of the Bill of Rights and in opposition of the unconstitutional measures enacted under the USA PATRIOT Act.