Why is it that a group of people want to throw the baby out with the bath water? So there were some FBI people may have been involved with invading privacy... Not the entire Agency but a handful... Does anyone know the penalty for misusing something of the sort for unjust reasons? It was 10 years in prison with no parol last I heard. Why not punish the guilty if it's worthy of punishment and let the good that the Patriot Act is doing continue.
2007-03-13 15:18:33 · 11 answers · asked by ? 4 in Politics & Government ➔ Law & Ethics
Totally agree with you. The Patriot act has to be. We are losing some rights but in the time of war it has to be. I'm totally for the FBI looking into what I'm doing as long as it is on the level. If they or any other government official crosses the line they should be punished. We shouldn't throw the baby out with the bath water as you said... I wish they would come out with the plans and things they have foiled. Good job FBI and Bush admin...
2007-03-13 15:47:17 · answer #1 · answered by Anonymous · 2⤊ 0⤋
The Patriot Act included dozens of separate modifications to federal law, many of which have never been a problem.
But that has nothing to do with the FBI issue. As you noted, the issue is what federal laws were broken, how many of those include criminal punishments, and who should be charged with breaking those laws.
The problem with the Patriot Act is that it removed many of the self-imposed restrictions on government investigation. The Patriot Act (with one exception, since changed) did not change the lines regarding what is constitutional in the areas of search and surveillance.
What it did remove previously existing limits, imposed by federal law, on what agencies where allowed to search and monitor. Many, including myself, object that the government has no busiess monitoring those areas. But the law allows it, so many, including myself, accept that the law is the law.
The problem comes when people say "that's not good enough" and go beyond those limits, breaking the law. And the problem with the Patriot Act was that it removed the buffer between what was merely illegal, and what was constitutional. As a result, many of the violations are more than just violations of self-imposed govt regulations -- they are also constitutional violations.
Repealing those provisions of the Patriot Act puts back the buffer.
2007-03-13 22:51:57 · answer #2 · answered by coragryph 7 · 1⤊ 2⤋
You'll probably never know the good since the Patriot Act
was put into place (the media never wants to tell you anything
good, you know, especially if it's something good from the
Bush administration). There have been tons of acts of
violence stopped by the Patriot Act (before it came to
fruition). Now that's good news.
2007-03-13 22:24:37 · answer #3 · answered by Anonymous · 4⤊ 0⤋
The road to hell is paved with good intentions.
The patriot act gives too much power - unconstitutional power - to various gov't agencies. They are trying to leverage the terrorist threat as mechanism to by-pass essential constitutional checks and balances in a historic power grab. I am a conservative (not a republican - there is a difference) and I am very strongly opposed to most of the Patriot Acts' provisions. "Give me liberty or give me death". I would rather live free under the threat of terrorism than live in virtual prison under near constant surveillance or the threat thereof in one form or another. As long as we keep taking the fight to them on their home turf, the muslim wackos will be too busy blowing themselves up closer to their home, than mine.
Anybody that is surprised that the F.B.I. abused the authority unconstitutionally given to them by Congress is dumber than Forest Gump. I wish lottery tickets were as predictable.
Absolute Power Corrupts Absolutely.
2007-03-13 22:34:07 · answer #4 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 2⤋
Let's see, There was 9/11. Then the Patriot Act. I don't see your point. If you don't understand my answer. NO TERROR ATTACKS IN THE US SINCE THE PATRIOT ACT.
2007-03-13 22:25:07 · answer #5 · answered by 1st Buzie 6 · 3⤊ 0⤋
Ask yourself this about the Patriot Act.
Why is that it is much more focused on what its own citizens are doing. Why do they need to know what Grandma Rose down the street is reading by searching her library records? Why do they need to be able to see what books you have purchased? Why are they spending so much time investigating PEACE groups, which by definition believe in non-violent resolution to problems.
Furthermore, this is not a matter of intelligent precautions. We had plenty of those. If Bush had taken the time to read the file, hadn't been biased by his PNAC associations, and had taken the warning, 9/11 could have easily been prevented. This is a matter of the government wanting to impinge upon our rights for their reasons which have nothing to do with protecting us, our freedoms, or our interests.
2007-03-13 22:28:02 · answer #6 · answered by peacedevi 5 · 1⤊ 5⤋
None, it has trashed hundreds of good laws that were already on the books.
2007-03-13 22:23:43 · answer #7 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 4⤋
created a new tool for the FBI to use for illegal search and seizure!
2007-03-13 22:21:43 · answer #8 · answered by Anonymous · 2⤊ 5⤋
0 good.
2007-03-13 22:23:17 · answer #9 · answered by Anonymous · 2⤊ 4⤋
keeps us alive
2007-03-13 22:22:49 · answer #10 · answered by Anonymous · 4⤊ 2⤋