[Hac-announce] Announcement of this Friday evening's cinema

[David E Schafer]

POTLUCK/USNH CINEMA THIS FRIDAY, 6:30 PM, THE SOCIAL HALL



Everyone concerned about social justice will agree that this Friday's 
Humanist Cinema strikingly brings home the truth of two familiar maxims: 
"Democracy means paying attention" and "All politics is local."  Bill Moyers' 
"The United States of ALEC" is the sobering story of a powerful right-wing 
organization that has been operating mostly under the radar for over 40 
years.  The American Legislative Exchange Council (ALEC) brings large 
corporations together with state legislators to create what they call 
"bottled legislation," which provides the models for some 1000 bills 
introduced annually around the country, about 200 of which are passed in a 
typical year.  Moyers calls it "a scheme to remake America, one statehouse 
at a time."  As he reminds us, "What happens in our state legislatures 
directly affects our taxes, schools, roads, the quality of our air and 
water, even our right to vote."  Another of the film's speakers sums up the 
situation this way:  "Smart players put their money in the states."



ALEC has been extolled in private meetings by right-wing politicians from 
President Reagan to Speaker Boehner, but first came to prominent public 
attention only recently with the slaying of Trayvon Martin in Florida, where 
a "Stand Your Ground" law, drafted by the National Rifle Association and 
enacted in many states with ALEC's help, initially protected his killer. 
You won't want to miss this eye-opening film!  It will be shown this Friday, 
March 1, promptly at 7:00 pm in the USNH Social Hall, preceded at 6:30 pm by 
a potluck dinner, and followed at 8:00 by a great discussion, so bring a 
friend and join us!