Went to get my taxes done today. The preparer guy and I were talking about exemptions, etc. And I asked him about the National Security letters that the govt. can use under the Military Commissions Act to get information on people. He had NO CLUE at all about this. I told him, legally they could get my tax information. How could you not know this?
Anyway, what do you think about the Patriot Act, these letters and the abuses from this? Let's see if we can set a world's record for responses and educate people at the same time :).
2007-03-17 05:48:34 · 8 answers · asked by ginzawasabi 2 in Politics & Government ➔ Law & Ethics
the second I heard it was named the "Patriot Act" I knew it was dangerous to our privacy. Acts are commonly named in a way to make people immediately think it's a good law to enact. With this, if you're against it, apparently you're not a patriot, or so the title implies.
I think this act is dangerous to individuals' right to privacy and independence. In a way, the terrorists have already won when they take away our right to privacy and due process. Warrants should be required where spying is needed, as a cautionary step against an overzelous government. It was completely forseeable that the abuses occurred. I'm discusted that our senators were blind to the abuses that were bound to occur.
For those who think the Patriot Act is a good thing, I think I'll write something called the "Liberty Act" where your neighbors can put you in jail for something they don't like about you.....Republicans would vote for it.
2007-03-17 06:03:43 · answer #1 · answered by jazznsax 2 · 2⤊ 1⤋
Most people have heard of it but I would venture to guess few have read it. They probably don't know about this 1995 bomb the CALEA either. It was passed when Bill Clinton was puppet er President. It's all the same dance, you just add a step each round...
CALEA
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/communicati...
Patriot Act
http://www.aclu.org/safefree/resources/1...
Which includes this tidbit:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/national_se...
And let's not forget the MCA
http://www.govtrack.us/congress/billtext...
Bad guys planning session circa 1992:
Okay a minor wtc attack gets the ball rolling. Then
for national security we get phone signals all formatted the same and unencrypted with the CALEA, then we hit em again in a few years and give ourselves the authority to listen without a warrant through the Patriot Act and NSL, then we wait a few years and worm in the next phase... we already have the power to strip citizenship with our puppet so let's make sure we write the MCA so it looks like it only works on aliens but we all know once we strip a person's citizenship they'll be an alien (big laughs all around) and then we can use the torture and secret evidence on them as alien illegal enemy combatants. You know we'll get a conviction every time because our puppet is in control of the military. Then we shoot their troublemaking ***es all legal like.
Join the ACLU... quickly... Very Quickly.
We Americans aren't fighting Republicans or Democrats or Independents, we're up against something very powerful and very evil and we better stop all this partisan bickering and figure it out before it's too late.
2007-03-17 13:11:56 · answer #2 · answered by seattleogre 3 · 3⤊ 0⤋
Actually, they can only get the tax information that you filed with the government or if you used some national or online preparer.
The NS letters only access information that is not covered by 4th Amendment privacy protections, because some company employee can look at it. So, what's in your private file cabinet is off limits. But what your utility company or library knows, or what some filing clerk (not doctor) at a hospital can access, then the FBI can request.
Also remember, the Patriot Act is not a single statute -- it made minor or major changes to dozens of statutory sections. 90% of the Patriot Act is not a problem, if you read through it. Just some parts are open to abuse.
How could people not know this? Most never bother to pay attention to legal issues until it affects them personally.
2007-03-17 13:47:38 · answer #3 · answered by coragryph 7 · 1⤊ 1⤋
I dont understand your tax analogy, but I definitely agree that the Patriot Act is violating some of our most fundamental rights, mostly having to do with privacy.
The Patriot Act has allowed the following to take place:
- warrantless searches
- warrantless wiretaps and communication intercepts
- suspension of habeas corpus
- trials of suspected terrorists to be held in military tribunals without the aid of counsel
- detainment without being informed of the charges
etc.
It's easy to see that throughout history, the United States has always responded to fear by coughing up some of its freedoms in exchange for the feeling of security (ex: Japanese Internment Camps during World War II). In this case, September 11 scared Americans into allowing our right-wing president to enact some very invasive legislation. In my opinion, the sooner we repeal the Patriot Act the better.
2007-03-17 13:09:00 · answer #4 · answered by EF 2 · 2⤊ 0⤋
What abuses? You send your tax return to the government and you are think it is an abuse for the government to have your return!?
2007-03-17 12:55:19 · answer #5 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 2⤋
DUH!!!!!!!!! the Government already has your tax information, a dastardly branch commonly known as THE IRS!
If you really think that the government is interested in what you are saying on the phone, emailing, buying, selling or otherwise, then you are either:
A. sleeping with UBL
B. are his secretary
C. are a member of a sleeper cell
D. having delusions of grandeur.
Get a clue. Get a life. Move to France.
2007-03-17 13:03:30 · answer #6 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 4⤋
. . . wasn't aware of any abuses; I support the Patriot Act!
2007-03-17 12:53:32 · answer #7 · answered by markleyumc 1 · 1⤊ 3⤋
I dont know much about it..Is there a site I can check?
2007-03-17 12:53:05 · answer #8 · answered by Mike M 4 · 1⤊ 1⤋