What's your opinion on the Patriot Act? Is it Constitutional? Why or Why not?

Question

http://www.epic.org/privacy/terrorism/hr3162.html

Answer 1

The Patriot Act is a Constitutional emergency measure taken in a time of war. It is NOTHING compared to the curtailment of liberties we experienced back during WWII, when Americans understood that 'loose lips sink ships' and were glad to see anyone blabbing arrested.

Enemies benefit when we impose artificial barriers to their detection or when we fail to prosecute information leakers for Treason.

Back during WWII the Press was not allowed to report on a great many things, especially anything that would give enemies feedback on what effect their operations were having against Americans. Hardly anybody even knew of the Japanese fire-bombing attacks all across the US mainland. Why? Because the Press was trying to help the US win by denying the enemy any useful information.

I think we have not gone far enough in detecting internal enemy activity or in putting the muzzle on the press.

War is a contest of will. The ENEMY will try to discourage you from persisting in war. Just look at who is trying to demoralize Americans today, working through our own press and hiding behind 'freedom of speech', and you will know who America's internal enemies are. Look who defends the 'rights' of enemy combatants captured and held in detention. Look at who trumpets any misdeed by our troops yet says little that might anger Americans against the enemy. Look and see who serves the agenda of the enemy.

Mainly, Leftists. Socialists. Democrats.

Answer 2

One could get into a debate about the finer points of it, but that would require a book. I don't know that anyone is interested in reading that anymore, since it's been said and done before. So I'll just give my predominant impression: I think it's quite amazing that they wrote and passed it so quickly! I agree with the belief that it was a "wish list" written up prior to 9/11, and 9/11 was just used as the excuse for passing it through. I'm not a conspiracy theorist saying that the gov't caused 9/11, but I do think that it has been taken advantage of; used and abused beyond the point of recognition. I think with that in mind, you can ask, why would the gov't want this wish list? Usually, with politicians, their actions are guided by doing whatever it takes to preserve their encumbancy and/or making money. I have no reason to believe that political motivations have changed.

Answer 3

Obviously, there's been a lot of debate. Some parts are fairly questionable, but you have to remember that the rights defined in the Constitution are to protect U.S. citizens. When you narrow the scope and focus of the conversation to that, only a few parts of the Patriot Act are left to debate.

If it can be shown years from now when we look back that all activities monitored and prosecuted ONLY had to do with terrorist affiliations, then as a citizen who cares deeply for our rights, I'd be comfortable with that.

Answer 4

In times of war (and we are at war) certain freedoms must be curtailed and perhaps given up. Winning the war has highest priority and we must understand that there will be no freedoms if we lose to those miserable, cut-throat people we are fighting. Therefore.........the Patriot Act is constitutional and so is phone tapping by the government. Let us not carry freedom to a point whereby it will annihilate us.

Answer 5

We give up Liberty to proct Liberty.
I think the Title of the Act itself is a shout out to George Orwell-calling a law that TAKES away freedom the name used by our forefathers who were fighting to GET freedom, is the most 1984 moment since we built a 1st stike nuclear missle system called the Peacemaker.
Absurd

Answer 6

If it were truly unconstitutional, it wouldn't have been allowed to pass.