The Patriot Act... Why do we let the government spy on us?

Question

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20070602/ap_on_re_us/terrorism_plot
Could that be why, maybe?

Answer 1

The only "people" who oppose the Patriot Act are those with something to hide

And liberals. They want the terrorists to be able to communicate in secret.

Answer 2

We're letting the government spy on us because:

1. We're cowards. Most of America has forgotten the mantra "Live Free Or Die". The soccer mom's expect their freedoms to come without risk or cost. This has never been, nor will ever be the case.

2. A false sense of security. For some bizarre reason, people think that by giving the government MORE power that it will somehow make them safer. This is both ignorant and naive. It is also the gateway to authoritarianism.

Anyone who knows the history of Nazi Germany will know about the burning of the Reichstag. It was blamed on "terrorists", and after that event the government used that as a reason to increase its powers to prevent such an event from happening again. Those that opposed the power grab were drowned out by propaganda and the prevailing fear mentality.

No this isn't a lead in to a conspiracy theory. This is just to show what can happen when we let fear instead of logic rule our decisions.

What happens when the government decides to change the definition of harm? For example, what if the government locks up all protesters as "potential enemy combatants". Or perhaps an over-zealous democrat or republican paint the opposing party as a "threat to America", much like the Red Scare from the 50's?

3. These guys were caught using standard investigative techniques. Just like all the other "foiled" attacks.

4. These guys are complete idiots. Even if they had carried out their plan, it wouldn't have caused hardly any damage.

Why? Simple chemistry.

In order for jet fuel to explode, two things need to happen. First, the fuel needs to aersolized so that enough oxygen is available for it to rapidly combust. Second, you need oxygen, lots and lots of oxygen.

The jet fuel pipelines, for the reasons stated above, run completely sealed. They have little, if any air in the lines. The fuel itself is also a liquid.

So if these guys did manage to get to the fuel artery (something that is difficult by itself) and managed to set off an explosive, what you'd get is something akin to an oil well fire. The big difference being we'd actually be able to shut of the fuel line to stop the fire.

The fire wouldn't race up the pipeline, since there isn't any oxygen to burn the fuel. And even if it did, it wouldn't explode since the fuel is liquid (not enough surface area to cause rapid combustion).

The world obeys real physics, despite what hollywood shows you.

This is almost as stupid as the whole liquid explosive idea.

Fear and ignorance.

~X~

Answer 3

I accept as true with Wyden, Patriot Act desires to bypass. it relatively is in basic terms a count of time in the previous the government abuses this ability. human beings did no longer attack us on 9/11/2001. Fishing expeditions won't quit the subsequent attack, the possibility/earnings ratio of The Patriot Act is gigantic.

Answer 4

My dear friend, nothing that is happening now has not been envisioned by our fore fathers. They have warned us time and again to prevent people like Bush from destroying the very fabric of who we are. May i quote some.
Declaration of Independence, Patriotism quotes:
But, when a long train of abuses and usurpations, pursuing invariably the same object, evinces a design to reduce them under absolute despotism, it is their right, it is their duty, to throw off such government, and to provide new guards for their future security.
On Bush as a politician:
Politics is the art of making your selfish desires seem like the national interest.
-Thomas Sowell
On Americans questioning the govt. :
"It is the duty of the patriot to protect his country from his government." -Thomas Paine
On using homeland security to deny us of our constitutional rights:
The Constitution is not an instrument for the government to restrain the people, it is an instrument for the people to restrain the government — lest it come to dominate our lives and interests.” — Patrick Henry
Here's an interesting one:
It is amazing how many people seem to think that the government exists to turn their prejudices into laws.
- Thomas Sowell
We have been warned but we choose to ignore:
"When all government, domestic and foreign, in little as in great things, shall be drawn to Washington as the center of all power, it will ... become as venal and oppressive as the government from which we separated." - Thomas Jefferson

Answer 5

"The illusion of freedom (in America) will continue as long as
it's profitable to continue the illusion. At the point where
the illusion becomes too expensive to maintain, they will just
take down the scenery, they will pull back the curtains, they
will move the tables and chairs out of the way and you will see
the brick wall at the back of the theater." -- Frank Zappa {rocker}

Answer 6

Do you actually believe that the government spying on you is something new? Been doing it for decades, are you that naive?

Answer 7

To me the only one they are spying on are those wanting to do harm. I don't make foreign calls discussing money transfers, discuss the way to blow up airports or water treatment plants, or how I want to see a city be destroyed so my calls would never be attractive to a screener. So yes the Patriot Act is needed and probably needs to be more fine tuned since I am sure the terrorists have come up with new communication channels we need to tap into.

Answer 8

The liberals are so paranoid they think they government is always watching them.... sorry, but the CIA has better things to do than watch your organic carrot farm.

Answer 9

This is a perfect example of why we needed the Patriot Act.

Answer 10

I'm thinking you may be on to something here. Ya think?