Speed Limits in Montana

I was distressed to note in “Kingdom of Yahoo Moves West” (Commentary, Jan. 29) that Tom Chaffin, identified as a history teacher at Emory University, failed to follow the first rule of history teachers: Get the facts straight.

A single phone call by the writer or a Times fact-checker would have discovered that Montana does, in fact, have speed limits. And that call would also have revealed that I did not sign anything; these speed limits and stiffer fines took effect automatically, thanks to our Legislature’s foresight in 1973. So, dragging whomever might hold this office into the discussion of murderous bombers, sagebrush thugs and conspiracy addicts is not only not clever and not appropriate. It is not accurate.

Now that false information and impression are out there unleashed in libraries and cyberspace for anyone to read and pass on instantly for years to come, totally false though they may be. Too bad for knowledge and history. But, more importantly, too bad for the greater marketplace of idea exchanges, civil debate and informed discussion that should characterize the diverse discourse of our democracy.

GOV. MARC RACICOT

Helena, Mont.