Does the Patriot Act infringe on U.S. Citizen's privacy?

Answer 1

Yes.

Answer 2

Yes, it does.

If you really study it, like you would for a term paper, you'll find quite a few interesting tid-bits.

For one the fact that it's called the "PATRIOT Act" already pushes the idea that Bush has been pushing for so long and his supporters have eaten up. That idea is that anyone who disagrees with anything Conservative or Bush is NOT a patriot. This is, of course, totally incorrect because Patriot is only love for one's country and Conservatives and Liberals simply have different paths they want to travel to get to the same place.

Then there are such lines as:
"Authority to intercept wire, oral, and electronic communications relating to terrorism."

Now that is actually quite vague. "...relating to terrorism." That, to someone who just reads it quickly may think: Yes! It will only target those who discuss terrorist-like things. But not only do we have no proof that that's being followed it also breaks the law that to get any surveillance one needs a court order.

"Foreign student monitoring program." is also mentioned. This is something China does also because it doesn't want capitalism or the idea of "questioning authority" or any talk of the tianemen square incident. Now America's doing it. Communist-like dictatorship?

No where on the document is "terrorist" defined and even if they capture someone there are no protections in place and no one they answer to if it turns out the person WASN'T a terrorist. They could, according to this document, hold a person for an indefinite amount of time only on the sentence: "He is a terrorist". No more proof than that needed.

{edit}

I also want to throw out some positives here too, though.
The act also mentions:

"Arab Americans, Muslim Americans, and Americans from South Asia play a vital role in our Nation and are entitled to nothing less than the full rights of every American."

"The acts of violence that have been taken against Arab and Muslim Americans since the September 11, 2001, attacks against the United States should be and are condemned by all Americans who value freedom." (that actually sounds a tad off to me, but ok)

"the civil rights and civil liberties of all Americans, including Arab Americans, Muslim Americans, and Americans from South Asia, must be protected, and that every effort must be taken to preserve their safety;"

Those lines do a fine job of taking notice of the recent hatreds towards Muslim Americans. Though, if you continue to read you also notice:

"the Nation is called upon to recognize the patriotism of fellow citizens from all ethnic, racial, and religious backgrounds."

Patriotism and freedom, though they are great ideas, are used throughout this document as a form of... compliment towards anyone that does what this document says. Why? Because no one wants to not be a patriot or be against freedom, right? What a skillfully crafted idea.

Answer 3

The wording of the Act is too vague and broad, so, technically, it's up in the air for open interpretation. But I think that it's designed like that just to, as you said, infringe on citizen's privacy rights.

Answer 4

Yes, and on our freedoms. It has considerably weakened both for most citizens. We are on a dangerous road - a famous quote: "Those who would exchange freedom for security get neither".

Answer 5

only the "bad guys"..