Deal reached to extend The Patriot Act: Does this concern you?

[dennis99ss]

Actually, I believe student loans were dischargeable in bankruptcy, at one time, many moons ago.

 

[Geoff_M]

As a librarian I can tell you that we are now required to turn over to the government at their request all of our circulation records. That's correct... what you check out from the library is now the governments business.

Newsflash: Federally, library records have never been considered protected private information. Librarians have always been free (except for in a couple of states due to state law) to share any information about your library activities to anyone they wish. Librarians have often voluntarily assisted in police investigations in the past without the knowledge of the person under investigation. A notable example was the investigation into "The Unibomber". The only difference is that before the PA, the decision to share the information without court order was with the librarian. Library records have never shared the same legal protection as things like medical or financial records in the eyes of Federal law.

And to answer the OP's question: No.

 

[Dan Murphy]

........Does this concern you.....

No, it does not. Does it you?

 

[ead79]

No, it does not.

 

[ChrisnSteph]

Kristasmom,

so, you believe the government should have access to your persional life, so thaey can check you out, to see if there is something there that they can investigate?

If the government can wiretap without warrant, if the government can hold suspects without the right for the suspect to question the holding, what makes you think that, once society is ok with it, which you are, that there will not be more erosion of rights. If a suspected terrorist does not have the right to counsel, what is to stop the government from saying, well, that suspected murderer is not entitled to the right to counsel, or, that suspected atlanta park bomber.....

Slippery slope, and, you need to understand what it is you are agreeing to
give up

I'm not Kristasmom, but I'll answer! I have absolutely nothing to hide, and I'm not worried about anyone investigating me for anything, so no, the Patriot Act does not concern me. So they could possibly have "access" to my personal life? What will they learn? That I shop mostly at a certain grocery store, that I have a fondness for a certain kind of laundry detergent, that I like to talk to my great aunt in Virgina on the weekends? Big whoop. I really don't think the government is concerned with my shopping habits, the kind of cars I drive or other personal matters other than anything that could signal a threat to our nations security. Nor do I plan on being arrested any time soon so I'm not worried about that stuff either. What concerns me more are terrorists who are willing to stop at nothing and will go to unbelievable lengths to wipe us off the planet. It may be wrong and I may be in the minority, but I could care less about the rights of suspected terrorists. I think people are getting themeselves too worked up over their "invasion" of privacy. The government is not after us. They are after the people that want to hurt and destroy our country. The implementation of the Patriot Act does not negatively nor directly affect my life. I find it hard to believe that every single american will be wiretapped and monitored. I think it's paranoia, and frankly I'm willing to sacrifice a few "rights" in order to feel safer in my own country. And the government doesn't need the Patriot Act to find out about our personal life. All they have to do is read the Dis!

 

[djcruz4fun]

Why not exterminate them? That is the most sure-fire way to ensure America's safety, logically.

Of course, as with communism the factor that is human nature is left out here. Persecute muslims and you risk a bigger opponent, etc.

The trick is to respond in a dignified, freedom led and respectful fashion.



Rich::

It could be what they have in mind for us non muslims

 

[nativetxn]

NOPE. Doesn't concern me. If a bunch of middle aged, overweight, blondes hijacked a plane and destroyed the World Trade Center, I would expect to be investigated and searched before I boarded a flight.

As it is, I'm almost always searched because that doesn't count as racial profiling.

Let them investigate me. PLEASE, investigate me. I have nothing to hide. I am an American citizen and I have the documentation to prove it.

If I was from another country and had no documentation to prove that I was legally in this country, I should expect to be investigated.

I'm sorry if that is inconvenient for people who do not have legal documentation to allow them to be in this country.

Katholyn

 

[Debbie Jean]

The only difference is that before the PA, the decision to share the information without court order was with the librarian.

Obviously not a minor difference in the opinion of the American Library Association nor the state librarian associations which have endorsed ALA's "Resolution on the USA PATRIOT Act and related measures that infringe on the rights of library users" which you can read in full at the link below.

http://www.ala.org/Template.cfm?Sec...Management/ContentDisplay.cfm&ContentID=11891

 

[dcentity2000]

It could be what they have in mind for us non muslims

Not stooping to the terrorist's level is what makes us better than them.

That and better grooming



Rich::

 

[transparant]

Nope. Doesn't concern me one bit.

 

[djcruz4fun]

Not stooping to the terrorist's level is what makes us better than them.

That and better grooming



Rich::

I would rather not be exterminated.

 

[Geoff_M]

Obviously not a minor difference in the opinion of the American Library Association nor the state librarian associations which have endorsed ALA's "Resolution on the USA PATRIOT Act and related measures that infringe on the rights of library users" which you can read in full at the link below.

But then again, the ALA is an organization that thinks that any "adult" materials found in libraries should not be restricted from children... So consider the source. I'm not a fan of "fringe" groups on either side of the aisle, and the ALA is clearly part of the "Fringe Left." If I'm not mistaken, they are so "absolutist" about their beliefs and so certain that people will be picked up for questioning for checking out "subversive" works that they've encouraged their members to destroy library records are quickly as possible... even if that means destroying evidence that might be helpful in a criminal investigation. If the ALA was as concerned with the 2nd Admendment as they are with the 1st... they'd advocate that it should be legal for every citizen to own a Bazooka.

You'll also notice that nothing in the link contradicts what I've said about the notion PA critics have floated that before the act was passed library records were afforded Federal privacy protection. What changed was that before the PA it was the librarian's permission that was needed to look at what books you've checked out, not yours in the eyes the Federal law. So how can the PA take away a Constitutional "right" that didn't exist in the first place?

 

[Nancy]

I think if people actually understood more about the PA and what it actually means, they'd be upset.

I think a lot of people just kind of assume they're safe because they're not Middle Eastern, but it's something that affects each and every one of us.

This country was founded on the concept of civil liberties, and now they're slowly being eroded.

Nope, not upset and I did a huge research paper on it for school...doesn't bother me at all. Didn't see anything in all my research that makes me think my rights will be violated. I'm still free to do any legal thing I want.

 

[djcruz4fun]

It should concern everybody. It is not a act to stop terrorism, it is an act to remove basic liberties from our society, and allow the government to control more and more aspects of your lives, and watch you, for no reason, in order to see if there is anything there, that would warrant additional investigation.

What liberty have you lost to this point with the PA?

 

[Laugh O. Grams]

It should concern everybody. It is not a act to stop terrorism, it is an act to remove basic liberties from our society, and allow the government to control more and more aspects of your lives, and watch you, for no reason, in order to see if there is anything there, that would warrant additional investigation.

Absolutely! Our Founding Fathers are rolling in their graves right now at how easily we gave up the rights that they spilled blood and changed the world for because of fear. We, as a nation, should be ashamed!

 

[eclectics]

While I believe we have a need for some sort of protective act I think the decision to exclude the minority party totally (as this congress is fond of doing) in all the negotiations was a mistake. This act is to be used to protect ALL of us, not just Republicans, and the representatives the Democrats duly elected to represent them in their respective districts and states should have a say on their constituants behalf. It affects every single citizen of this country and should not be so blatantly partisan.

 

[JCJRSmith]

I am the OP. I posed this question to see where folks feelings lie WRT to the Patriot Act and the extension of the provisions contained in the Patriot Act. A little about me. I am an honorbly dischaged veteran of the United States Navy and a law-abiding taxpayer. Politically, I am about as middle of the road as they come. I believe in God but do not practice any organized religion. I have a wife, children and grandchildren. I own my own home. Other than traffic violations, I have no criminal record. I am widely read on many subjects. My first initial is J and my last name is Smith. Yeah, J Smith. I have been the victim of cases of mistaken identity due to my name, and sometimes it is a criminal I have been confused with.

The powers contained in the Patriot Act scare me. Our government was formed based on a set of checks and balances that keep any particular branch of the government, be it Executive, Judicial, or Legislative, from becoming all powerful. What scares me the most is as follows:

1) LAW ENFORCEMENT CAN SEARCH YOUR HOME AND NOT EVEN TELL YOU. The USA Patriot Act expands law enforcement’s ability to conduct secret “sneak and peek” searches of your home. Investigators can enter your home or office, take pictures and seize items without informing you that a warrant was issued, for an indefinite period of time (Section 213)

2) LAW ENFORCEMENT CAN COLLECT INFORMATION ABOUT WHAT BOOKS YOU READ, WHAT YOU STUDY, YOUR PURCHASES AND YOUR MEDICAL HISTORY. The USA Patriot Act gives law enforcement broad access to any types of records – medical, financial, gun, library, educational, sales, etc. – without probable cause of a crime. It also prohibits the holders of this information, like librarians, from disclosing that they have produced such records, under threat of imprisonment. The court orders are issued by a secret intelligence court in Washington and judges have little power to deny applications. (Section 215)

3) LAW ENFORCMENT CAN SEIZE A WIDE VARIETY OF BUSINESS AND FINANCIAL RECORDS, and in certain instances access the membership lists of organizations that provide even very limited Internet services (message boards on your church website for instance) using “national security letters,” or NSLs, which are issued at the sole discretion of the Justice Department. The Patriot Act expanded access to these NSLs, which also impose a blanket gag order on recipients and are not subject to judicial review. (SECTION 505)

4) LAW ENFORCEMENT CAN READ PARTS OF YOUR E-MAILS AND MONITOR WHAT YOU LOOK AT ON-LINE. The Patriot Act lets the government get records that could show the subject lines of your e-mails and details about your Web surfing habits (like your recent research on Google), all without probable cause. (SECTION 216)

Yeah, the PA scares me.

 

[JoeEpcotRocks]

Absolutely! Our Founding Fathers are rolling in their graves right now at how easily we gave up the rights that they spilled blood and changed the world for because of fear. We, as a nation, should be ashamed!

Oh what drama!

I'm quite proud of our nation. I'm glad the Patriot Act has been extended.

 

[DawnCt1]

no I am not happy with it.
I am also not happy with the Supreme Court's ruling yesterday that defaulted student loans can be deducted from social security wages. most debts have a statute of limitations. I won't even go further. I just don't agree with it !!

So if you can hide out long enough, you should be able to get away with it.

 

[Disney Gator]

The powers contained in the Patriot Act scare me. Our government was formed based on a set of checks and balances that keep any particular branch of the government, be it Executive, Judicial, or Legislative, from becoming all powerful.

It's not like the current administration has all of a sudden taken away civil liberties. The argument could easily be made that it's been a steady process that started right after the Constitution was ratified. Just in the 20th century: How about Nixon/Hoover's use of the FBI to intimidate anti-war activists? Have we forgotten about that already? How about Clinton issuing more Executive Orders than any other president? Have we forgotten the whole "stroke of the pen, law of the land" comment?

If you want to argue against the Patriot Act, fine, but don't act like this is a recent development.