Patriot Act...?

Question

just wondering, is it really that bad? the only way it has affected my life is when i went to the bank to open a new account and it took maybe five minutes longer than normal. you libs out there act like your giving up your firstborn child. so whats the deal?

yeah, ill admit i havent read it, but seems to me the UK has been doing a good job rounding up jihadists.

i have no criminal record, maybe a few misdemeanors for speeding, but all in all im not too worried. call me prejudiced but my last name isn't mohammad.

ah, i was a bit steamed when i posted this, so i asked this question impulsively...

i don't know much about it, just wanted opinions...

Answer 1

I am a conservative and the Patriot Act has not effected my life, but I can see the dangers. The Patriot Act grants the government sweeping powers which can be used against American citizens in an unfavorable manner and they are constantly seeking to expand it's scope. I do believe some parts of the act were necessary, but I do not ever want to see this thing become permanent legislation. I believe it should be reviewed constantly with an eye towards eventually scrapping it. Keep this in mind, you may not believe it poses a threat under the current administration, but read it and then assess whether you think it might be a threat to you under other administrations. If you do this honestly your opinion may change drastically. Security is an illusion and if you trade freedom for this illusion in the end you will lose both.

Answer 2

As everyone has already mentioned, the Patriot Act pushes this country more toward a police state. But what it also does is eradicate the checks and balances. It gives the Executive Branch of government far more power than what it needs to have. We don't have the Judicial Branch checking the Executive Branch. There is a reason why we have a Bill of Rights, to protect the people from the government. We have a right to be secure in our homes and personal effects. The government has to provide that they have probable cause to search or seize property or individuals. They then go before the court, get sworn under oath, specifically list the places or things to be searched or seized. This was put in there so the government can't just go and search through anything it wants, or lock up someone for no good reason. The Patriot Act is in direct violation of this. Which is why we must do away with this law. This is America and in this country we have certain unalienable rights granted to us by something higher than the government that they can not take away. Not a totalitarian police state where rights are a privilege given to us by the government.

Answer 3

Is it really that bad? Well ok let me tell you what this "Patriot Act" does. It allows the government to basically do whatever it wants to you without a court order, without oversight and you have no recourse.

They can drive up, kick down your door, hit you in head, drag you away and lock you up without charging you with crime, giving you a trial, granting you your Miranda rights, for as long as they see fit for no other reason then "You fit the President's definition of an enemy combatant" which is defined SOLELY by the President. There is no criteria!!!!! He could do it to you because you wore a Mets hat for F**ks sake!

They can (and do) listen to your phone calls all day everyday just because they want to, they can monitor every single email, bank account transaction, etc without your knowledge or anyone's approval.

Does that sound American? Does that sound good? Does that sound like something America is supposed to stand for? Or does it sound like something Saddam Hussein would do?!

What I really wanna know is why people refuse to actually THINK about what is going on and say "it is to defend democracy" when all these things do is turn America into a DICTATORSHIP! How do you defend liberty, freedom and justice by destroying them and taking them away from the people????????????????????

Answer 4

It makes it so the FBI can come to your house when you're not home and snoop WITHOUT a warrant (in violation of the Fourth Amendment), and they don't have to tell you about it.

Just because it doesn't affect you now doesn't mean it won't affect you later on, or it won't affect others.

BTW I'm not a liberal. I'm very much a conservative (NOT a neo-con). It shouldn't take a liberal to say, hey, this law/act is unconstitutional!

Answer 5

You've clearly never read it. It's not how is HAS affected you that's important. It's how it COULD affect you. If your government decided tomorrow to round up every person with your last name and detain them indefinitely without the benefit of trial... the Patriot Act allows this.

I see... so you don't think that it would ever be possible that your country might democratically elect a leader who would turn into a complete dictator.

Then you clearly haven't been paying attention to what happened in Iraq.

Answer 6

There's this thing called the Constitution and Bill of rights which outline our rights as citizens. Illegal wire/internet tapping and suspension of Habeus corpus sort of violate that. What's next, Martlal law?
It's a slippery slope to having no rights, that's the problem with the "Patriot" Act.

Answer 7

Listen, in a nutshell, America was founded under certain principles and we're all losing sight of them. We are supposed to be a nation based on certain ideals, like those spelled out in our Constitution. Our nation is composed of immigrants, too. And we are supposed to be leaders in promoting human rights... and the freedoms, liberties and rights as spelled out in our Constitution as being inalienable... We were once known for being a Nation of laws and fairness and now our Constitution and our stand for human rights are in question.

Our government is supposed to work FOR US, not us working to support a few bigwigs with ideas of grandeur. We hired (elected) our leaders to look out for our best interest, not the best interest of the their personal cronies, the super rich and powerful who set themselves aside to enrich themselves at our expense as a would-be monarchy, or a special social class above the laws imposed on the rest of society (Orwell's "1984").

We have elected officials to protect us against tyrants and despots... but, too many of us have become too complacent and believe that there are guarantees... no one ever said that a democracy guarantees anyone's safety... that's what we have law enforcement personnel and a judicial system but because of the complacency of lemmings and sheep, we now have to ask, WHO protects us against those elected officials that think they can overlook, break or rescind laws and our Constitution at whim? Our Constitution was written to prevent any one person or group from amassing too much power, that's why we have our government divided into three areas, Executive Branch, Judicial Branch, and Executive Branch, designed as checks and balances to ensure against tyranny... but, it seems that two individuals think otherwise (Dubya, and Shotgun Cheney).

READ your Constitution, and pay special attention to the Bill of Rights... READ, and don't let those words escape you.

The Patriot Act is nothing short of Double Talk and Double Think, geared to entice us into believing in a false and non-existing Utopian society that will undoubtedly be run by the super rich and powerful, who will set themselves as the ruling class above and beyond the laws imposed on the rest of society.

Giving up any or part of our democratic rights, feedoms and liberties to those who impose practices condemned for many decades by this nation is nothing more than putting a yoke around our collective necks. Our Constitution and our laws are not to be rescinded and/or overlooked for the sake of convenience... lest one person in power may abuse our freedoms, liberties and rights as outlined in our Constitution... written and ratified by men who are MUCH smarter and wiser than the present puppet (for the super rich and powerful) sitting in the White House.

Acting in the same manner as our enemies and disregarding human rights will certainly NOT make us better and it won't make us the "good" guys in the eyes of the world... it will only prove that we are the stronger bullies, goons and ruffians but it will NEVER prove that we are right!

Answer 8

The government can now seize your firstborn child, declare him to be an enemy combatant without filing charges or letting him talk to a lawyer, send him to a foreign country to be tortured until he tells them he is in fact an enemy combatant and you are his cell leader and then they can come for you.

Comfortable with that scenario? There is nothing to stop it right now.

And if you are okay with that, will you be so happy if Hillary Clinton has that power?

Answer 9

Liberals hate Bush and will tell every lie they can think of to try to make Bush look bad. Liberals even blamed Bush for hurricane Katrina hitting New Orleans by saying that Bush caused global warming and that is why Katrina hit. Considering what lunatics liberals are, laugh at them when they scream about the Patriot Act and ask them what rights they have lost. They won't be able to give you a real answer and will start insulting you in hopes of distracting you so you won't be able to catch them lying.
Just don't turn your back on a liberal. He might kill you and try to call it a retroactive abortion. It would be easier for them than to face reality.

Answer 10

I hope you are joking!!! If you aren't...start reading. Talk to your Parents and Grandparents, ask them what kind of rights they've seen erased and changed. Read this and ask them if the Patriot Act is bad........

The Conventions of a number of the States having, at the time of
adopting the Constitution, expressed a desire, in order to prevent
misconstruction or abuse of its powers, that further declaratory and
restrictive clauses should be added, and as extending the ground of
public confidence in the Government will best insure the beneficent ends
of its institution;

Resolved, by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United
States of America, in Congress assembled, two-thirds of both Houses
concurring, that the following articles be proposed to the Legislatures
of the several States, as amendments to the Constitution of the United
States; all or any of which articles, when ratified by three-fourths of
the said Legislatures, to be valid to all intents and purposes as part
of the said Constitution, namely:

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Amendment I

*

Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or
prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of
speech, or of the press; or the right of the people peaceably to
assemble, and to petition the government for a redress of grievances.

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Amendment II

*

A well regulated militia, being necessary to the security of a free
state, the right of the people to keep and bear arms, shall not be
infringed.

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Amendment III

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No soldier shall, in time of peace be quartered in any house, without
the consent of the owner, nor in time of war, but in a manner to be
prescribed by law.

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Amendment IV

*

The right of the people to be secure in their persons, houses, papers,
and effects, against unreasonable searches and seizures, shall not be
violated, and no warrants shall issue, but upon probable cause,
supported by oath or affirmation, and particularly describing the place
to be searched, and the persons or things to be seized.

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Amendment V

*

No person shall be held to answer for a capital, or otherwise infamous
crime, unless on a presentment or indictment of a grand jury, except in
cases arising in the land or naval forces, or in the militia, when in
actual service in time of war or public danger; nor shall any person be
subject for the same offense to be twice put in jeopardy of life or
limb; nor shall be compelled in any criminal case to be a witness
against himself, nor be deprived of life, liberty, or property, without
due process of law; nor shall private property be taken for public use,
without just compensation.

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Amendment VI

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In all criminal prosecutions, the accused shall enjoy the right to a
speedy and public trial, by an impartial jury of the state and district
wherein the crime shall have been committed, which district shall have
been previously ascertained by law, and to be informed of the nature and
cause of the accusation; to be confronted with the witnesses against
him; to have compulsory process for obtaining witnesses in his favor,
and to have the assistance of counsel for his defense.

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Amendment VII

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In suits at common law, where the value in controversy shall exceed
twenty dollars, the right of trial by jury shall be preserved, and no
fact tried by a jury, shall be otherwise reexamined in any court of the
United States, than according to the rules of the common law.

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Amendment VIII

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Excessive bail shall not be required, nor excessive fines imposed, nor
cruel and unusual punishments inflicted.

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Amendment IX

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The enumeration in the Constitution, of certain rights, shall not be
construed to deny or disparage others retained by the people.

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Amendment X

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The powers not delegated to the United States by the Constitution, nor
prohibited by it to the states, are reserved to the states respectively,
or to the people.