[sspadowsky]

I enjoy a good conspiracy theory as much as the next guy, but I've done a fair amount of reading about the PATRIOT Act, and I can dispell the conspiracy idea here. The provisions in this act are a mish-mash "wish list" of a bunch of crap that the FBI had wanted to pass for many years. But they knew there was no way in hell Congress would approve any of it under normal circumstances.

As soon as 9-11 came along, boom! The PATRIOT Act was passed about a month later. Most of the Senate didn't even read it. In fact, only one person voted against it, a senator from Wisconsin whose name escapes me at the moment.

The DOJ is trying to downplay the backlash created in part by the ACLU against the Act, saying that it would only be used against people suspected of terrorist activity. Not true. I may not hold a doctorate in jurisprudence, but my reading comprehension skills are pretty good, and the language in the Act allows the unconstitutional searches, seizures, and procurement of library, medical, and any other records, to be conducted against ANYONE.

Skeptical? Fuck you. The FBI has a long and infamous history of abuse of power (see Malcom X and MLK in particular). I've maintained that we must always look at how laws can, and most definitely WILL be abused. The PATRIOT Act is bad news, and the sequel is much worse. I'm glad that the Legislative branch is finally waking up and seeing what horrible injustices can be perpetrated under the PATRIOT Act.

I'd rather be free and take my chances than live in a police state. People really need to understand something: Comparisons of the current climate to that of Nazi Germany are not unfounded. Nazi Germany didn't happen overnight; it was the result of many years of sinister, calculated effort. Legislation like the PATRIOT Act is the foundation on which such societies are built. Assuming the PATRIOT Act remains, we have to look at what will follow it over the next 10-20 years. Aschcroft & Co. are already trying to further broaden the DOJ's powers with the new version of the PATRIOT Act. No good will come of it.