Patriot Act Issue?

Question

What is the worst policy that has been adopted since Bush has been in office, and why? Do you think that the Patriot Act should be taken out of practice, and what in the act do you consider the "worst part".

Answer 1

There's so much but maybe this in the Patriot Act: Peopla pay very little attention to it. 30,000 National Security Letters Issued Annually Demanding Information about Americans: Patriot Act Removed Need for FBI to Connect Records to Suspected Terrorists

The FBI is taking advantage of the NSL provision expanded by the Patriot Act to demand information from tens of thousands of organizations including universities, Internet service providers, and organizations with library records," said Ann Beeson, Associate Legal Director of the ACLU. "There is no requirement that suspicion be determined in a court of law, meaning that the letters can be issued without any court approval or review."

According to the Washington Post, universities and casinos have received these letters and been forced to comply with the demands to turn over private student and customer information. Anyone who receives an NSL is gagged - forever - from telling anyone that the FBI demanded records, even if their identity has already been made public.

In New York and Connecticut, the ACLU has challenged the NSL provision that was dramatically expanded by Section 505 of the Patriot Act. The legislation amended the existing NSL power by permitting the FBI to demand records of people who are not connected to terrorism and who are not suspected of any wrongdoing. The ACLU has asked the appeals court to uphold the two separate lower court rulings: one which found the NSL authority of the Patriot Act unconstitutional and another that struck down a gag imposed under the same statute.

Note: You don't have to connected to terrorism and you can't tell anyone(by gag order) that you have been so ordered.

Bush and Karl Rove and Cheney and the rest thought this up and passed the Patriot Act within 6 weeks of 9/11, almost unanimously on the part of Congress. I don't think anyone read it or studied it. It's absolutely huge in length and scope, it's full name The Uniting and Strengthening America by Providing Appropriate Tools Required to Intercept and Obstruct Terrorism Act of 2001. I'm angry with the Democrats too-we elect them to help protect us.

Answer 2

The Patriot Act and the Military Commissions Act MUST MUST MUST be repealed. Immediately.

If you do nothing with your entire life -- the very least you can do is phone, write, and email your newly elected Reps to say just that.

"The Patriot Act and the Military Commissions Act MUST MUST MUST be repealed. Immediately."

It is the crystal clear undermining of the Constitution, it is startlingly similar to the Enabling Act which Hitler got passed -- allowing Hitler free reign to do as he damn well please, WITH NO LEGISLATIVE OVERSIGHT * ahem* -- all under the guise of "fighting terrorism."

http://www.historyplace.com/worldwar2/riseofhitler/dictator.htm

That's right, folks.

Everything Hitler did was absolutely "legal."

And now bush has the Patriot Act and the Military Commissions Act to do the very same thing. Legally. He can "disappear" anyone he chooses, with no ramifications whatsoever. His choice.

Is that American?

Answer 3

A better question is why hasn't the democrats touched the patriot act?

Answer 4

The worst policy is the illegal immigrant stance.

Answer 5

the Patriot Act has had no impact whatsoever on my personal liberties.