I am doing a persuasive speach on how I feel we are losing our liberties and i would like some feedback on these issues please...Please be serious and before you call me a whiny liberal I am a moderate republican.
198806
Myth: The Patriot Act simply updated the tools of law enforcement to match the technology used by the terrorists and criminals today.\nReality: The Patriot Act “updated” surveillance powers but failed to “update” the checks and balances needed to ensure those surveillance powers include proper judicial oversight. \n\nSection 206 of the Patriot Act allows the government to obtain “roving wiretaps” without empowering the court to make sure that the government ascertain that the conversations being intercepted actually involve a target of the investigation.  \n\n“Pen registers” and “trap and trace” devices are also allowed and track detailed information about Internet use, like specific web pages viewed or search terms entered into a search engine read more:http://action.aclu.org/reformthepatriotact/facts.html#two\nMyth: The Patriot Act is “mostly taking what we can do to track drug dealers and thugs and give those tools to people tracking spies and terrorists.”\nReality: Before the Patriot Act, the government could use the same tools, like wiretapping or using grand jury subpoenas, to investigate drug dealers and terrorists. The government simply had to be investigating a crime of terrorism.  \nMyth: The codification of delayed notice warrants in the Patriot Act “brought national uniformity to a court-approved law enforcement tool that had been in existence for decades.”\nReality: The Patriot Act’s “sneak and peek” provision is about lowering standards for sneak and peek warrants, not imposing uniformity. Section 213 of the Patriot Act allows notice of search warrants to be delayed for an indefinite “reasonable time.” \nMyth: The primary effect of the Patriot Act was to “bring down this ‘wall’ separating intelligence officers from law enforcement agents” in coordination and information sharing.\nReality: Information sharing between criminal and intelligence investigations occurred before Sept. 11, 2001 and the Patriot Act. The primary effect of the Patriot Act was to remove necessary checks and balances in foreign intelligence investigations\nMyth: The Patriot Act’s “new powers have allowed authorities to charge more than 400 people in terrorism investigations since the attacks of Sept. 11, 2001, and convict more than half.”\nReality: The government attributes convictions it says are terrorism-related that have nothing to do with the Patriot Act. The “400 convictions” claim overstates actual number of convictions and omits a number of key facts related to these numbers. Only 39 of these individuals were convicted of crimes related to terrorism. The median sentence for these crimes was 11 months, which indicates the crime the government equated with terrorism was not serious\nMyth: The Patriot Act does not contain a provision that allows the government to obtain library records, and “[t]he reading habits of ordinary Americans are of no interest to those investigating terrorists or spies.”\nReality: Section215 of Patriot Act does cover library records. It authorizes the government to more easily obtain a court order requiring a person or business to turn over documents or things “sought for” an investigation to protect against international terrorism. Business records include library records.\n\nYour medical records, records and lists of individuals who belong to political organizations are also fair game for the government to seize\nMyth: “[The] Patriot Act is chock-full of oversight in a lot of ways that regular criminal procedure is not:  full of the involvement of federal judges…”\nReality: The statute authorizing the use of “national security letters” as amended by the Patriot Act 505(a) contains no judicial oversight. The statute allows the government to compel the production of financial records, credit reports, telephone, Internet, and other communications or transactional records. \nSection 215 requires the FBI to apply to a Foreign Intelligence Sur
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Absolutely not. Men and women fought, died and were horrifically wounded in 2 world wars to ensure freedoms that included a range of civil liberties that we now take so much for granted that we seem to care less as they are being progressively eroded by those in positions of power in this country. We are the most spied on citizens in the "free" world, and our freedoms are being taken away by the day. Those vociferous people who constantly repeat the politician's and police mantra that "if you have done no wrong, you have nothing to fear" will be the first to complain when we are subjugated, monitored and controlled to such a degree, in the not too distant future, that they are no longer allowed to even voice their protest.  We are calmly sleep-walking into a totalitarian police state, and most of the responders in this forum appear to think that's fine. I despair for our future, and our liberty, when you have so blithely let it go.
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It depends on your priority.  There are an honorable handful of Republicans (and a few Democrats) who have a genuinely libertarian perspective on individual liberties; if your local is one of those, you might want to vote for them AND send them a letter saying why.\n\nIf both the Rep and Dem in your district have equally statist or authoritarian biases, then vote Libertarian or write in a local Libbie.\n\nIf the Republican is better on economic issues but authoritarian on the Bush New World Order, and the Democrat is good on civil liberties but too anti-capitalist, then you have to decide which is a bigger threat to your personal liberties right now.  Right now, I'd argue that the Bush people are scarier by far; but that's my priorities speaking.
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God dizzle, what are you on about?\n She has every right to say that, and shes true, if you've made up your mind to support bush then so be it. Im sick of us all being labeled 'Liberals', like its a dirty word. Im sorry, i seem to have missed the day when the idea of liberty became such a dirty word to the neo-con americans. \n To the poster, im sorry to hear about that, but some of us are just twats, basically. The left wing is full of 'FUCK BUSH'ers and frankly, its doing my sodding head in, Their are so many other issues we've got to grapple with, and i hated a liberal who doesnt know their facts. Im proud to be a Liberal, but im also proud to have actually studied my topics and know what im on about.\n I'd be glad to have a logical discussion with you :) Frankly, i dotn care if someones right-wing, if their courteous and rational im open to chat
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It's people like your friend, should he join, to whom we own thanks for being free in this country. He must make a decision to go or not. It's not like trying a new hobby and saying, "no, I don't like this after all." \n\nWhy do Americans put down the very institution that has given them the liberties they enjoy? Asinine.\n\nP.S. anything from MSN I tend to question. Their a media megaphone for liberals\n\nto DJ: I am not implying anything such as you have put on me! Don't put words in my mouth.
451235
The more conservatives lock themselves in their homes the better chance we libertarians have at finally turning this country around. I applaud your sacrificing yourself for the good of the country. Stay "afraid." Just stay in your home and we'll let you out in a few years when we've had the chance to reverse the GOP damage.
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I'm tired of the good life myself.  Thank goodness America will now be in the hands of terrorists.\n\nThank a Democrat
233251
Thanks Professor Adam, I agree with Jerry Seinfeld's analogy myself, it's really brilliant actually. The Dictatorship is coming to a close in November, and Democracy will once again reign in America whether the Republicans like it or not. I think they act like 2nd grade children most of the time being bully's. Life doesn't revolve around rich little sissy's that throw fits to get their way. I am hoping for quite a few indictments, so the Republicans can't forget what has been done to America as a whole. Justice should prevail over might in these cases. Getting along with others takes effort for some people that have been sheltered all of there lives, they really don't know any better I suppose. I think it's sad don't you?
466181
You can't segregate the two, and know one should try. Nothing is more important to the citizens of this country than the Bill of Rights. However, some believe it is OK to take liberties in exchange for security, a concept that never works out for the citizens, and I disrespect people who agrees with it.
634500
You have rattled allot of folks in here.My hat off to you.If I had a choice to report the abuse yes I would choose to do so.I know many people are divided in what they choose to believe or not believe,but look at all the horrible things that have happened over the past 6 years.I believe it speaks for itself.When will we as Americans be free of the follies of the government and the Presidents who do not care about their own people.I am not just saying Bush is to blame I am stating he has become one of the many problems we face now.
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Good Luck!  Just get on the Republican party's web site.  Surely, they will have some propaganda and more lies to say about G.W.  Or just tune into Fox News.  The only improvement I have seen in the last 6 months is the number of people with IMPEACH BUSH decals on their car.
120635
I do not agree with what our government is doing, but I believe that has a lot to do with the Bush administration. I've never been so disapointed int my own country before. Honestly, I am scared of our well being because of what they are doing.
176824
You are truly a moron. All your questions are attacking "liberals". How about attacking the corruption which is coming to light in Dubya's admininstration?\n\nRepublicans are in trouble, big time, so what is your typically Republican response? Attacking liberals and questioning our patriotism.
114627
Sorry man, I don't have a clue what you are talking about.  I am a Republican and have nothing to do with any of the junk you just mentioned.
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I only want to use this space to say I am a liberal,I didn't know how important that was until I had to live the results of conservative.\nI don't see one line in your writing that is true,but if you like George Bush,I can understand that.\nI want to give KT thumbs up for his excellent answer,and real good answers from nikoat77 and coolluke.\nYour conservative friends are at this moment trying to take more of your,our freedoms,one that will change how you can or do use your pc,\nIt could even close this site to young people because it would be to nasty'I'm asking a question about it,why don't you take a look,it'll be under Government.
600409
.  First of all our "forefathers did not "give us our freedoms"  they fought to ensure that we had that with which  we were rightfully   "endowed by our Creator".   Those freedoms that we commonly speak of like the freedom of the press, the freedom to worship, and the rights: to assemble, to free speech, to trial, etc are all part of that single concept of liberty.  I would not give up one of those individual freedoms or rights because to do so would be to diminish liberty...and liberty is our God given right.  So I agree with several of the other answers in that one respect.  However once again we have our president being accused for eroding our freedoms.  I challenge anyone to offer any evidence that an action on the part of the president has violated the bill of rights.   If you want to talk about an erosion of freedoms lets talkabout some of the liberal legislators in both state and federal  government who have made a habit of imposing arbitrary taxes.  Take for example taxes on tobacco products.  Whether you are a smoker or not, the principle should outrage you.  You have a few politicians who want to raise money who say well...".hey..i don't smoke..how about if we add 50 cents onto the cost of a pack of cigarettes...those smokers are in the minority, we can get away with it".  How fair is that?  Seems to me we fought a revolution in this country over less than this.  How about eminent domain?  You don't think that is an erosion of your freedoms.  A city can just decide they are going to buy your property from you and sell it to a developer because they can make more money in taxes from what will be built there.  What ever happened to private property?  I guess that doesn't mean so much to you liberals.  And why?...Because...private property is the first thing to go under communism and the liberal left mentality in this country today is a direct result of the influence of communist/socialist educators.  Talk about rights.  You are more concerned about a persons right to have unprotected sex without consequences than the right of a living innocent baby to survive.  Of course you are so concerned about crime that you don't want law abiding citizens to own firearms...you'd be just as happy if they banned them all, when statistically these gun owners aren't causing the deaths.  Yet your liberal minded judges continue to give repeat offenders light sentences or grant probation so that young kids can continue to be raped and murdered by these animals.  Yeah, I'd say we have an erosion of our freedoms due to an unresponsive government that does not act in many cases in the best interest of the American people but rather for their own personal agendas.  In my opinion that agenda by and large is the perpetuation of themselves and their positions ala Ted Kennedy.  George Bush was the right man to be in office at this time and he is certainly no enemy of freedom.\n    I guess I kind of got off the topic a bit but the bottom line is I couldn't choose one individual right or freedom over another.  To do so would be like asking me to choose a part of my body to cut off.  They are all important to me.  They are all part of the whole that are liberty and I would give up my life to defend any one or all.
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Brother, Our freedoms have ended long back. Its a country where people with doubts and critical thoughts are labeled nut jobs and discounted. you know what I mean. It can only get worse unfortunately unless we actively do something about it.