What is the Patriot Act about?
112745
It is a law that allows the Feds to spy on Americans without a reason. They say it is to fight terrorism...but who believes that without any proof. Check this out...
263699
Its hard to say because any leads would be highly classified by the government. Stopping a terrorist would be a great boost in support for the Bush administration, however releasing such information could pose a threat to national security. Although they did release info on the terrorist who was planning to attack LA, who was stopped by a Canadian border official. That didn't have anything to do with the Patriot act though, as the offical stopped the man on a hunch.
733356
If I lost any rights from the Patriot Act, I haven't noticed.  I have nothing to hide.  I'm not plotting againts our government.  Nor am I sympathizing with terrorists.  So, what's the big deal?  If it's not affecting you, why worry about it?\n\nDon't forget, the Patriot Act was the first act in recent history to pass unanimously in both houses of congress.
442911
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
824161
Sounds a bit socialist to me. \n\nOnce upon a time, there was a country called America, we fought wars on our own soil and we fought bravely. We were allowed to carry guns and protect ourselves and families. Now the government doesn't think we can protect ourselves or are brave enough to fight if nessasary. \n\nNo, just because you don't believe in the patriot act doesn't mean you are not a patriot. It means you feel you are brave enough to fight what comes along. They shouldn't be tapping US they should be tapping other countries!
474204
According to the Homeland Security Act.... Nothing!\n\n\nYou will not be able to debunk this fact.
342225
The present. With Bush's war on terrorism and the Patriot Act.
1173224
For the record, we did not get to vote on the so-called Patriot Act.  And as you so correctly point out, there is nothing patriotic about it.\n\nThose who have fought to defend our Constitution must be spinning madly in their graves now, knowing what the American public is currently tolerating in the name of "security."  \n\nThey are in no sense patriots who tamper with our system of justice.  "True patriotism hates injustice in its own land more than anywhere else."  Clarence Darrow
949
Many aspects of the Patriot Act are uncontested; in fact, Nadine Strossen of the ACLU has stated that she agrees with over 90% of the provisions of the Patriot Act.  It's only a few provisions that are hotly contested\n\nIt largely tries to unify communication among several departments and provide easier access for law enforcement officers.  Online information was difficult to obtain before 9/11; access to judges was slower and required more paperwork; and more hoops were required before action could be taken.\n\nThe Patriot Act doesn't remove the safeguards, but streamlines and simplifies them.  For the most part, the same sorts of safeguards are in place, just with different requirements that are less burdensome on government.\n\nMany provisions are loudly decried in public, but few people ever discuss specific provisions of the Patriot Act they disapprove of.  Most of it seems to be mass hysteria without any specific citation of violations.  When the biggest complaint is that someone may look at your library record, it doesn't seem to be THAT violative of privacy.\n\nI've included links to the Department of Justice's defense of the Act, as well as the ACLU's criticism.  I hope that balances the views.
887602
Federal law does override/preempt state law, under the Supremacy Clause.\n\nBut the Patriot Act only grants authority to share information that otherwise exists between law enforcement agencies, and to grant access to information that is otherwise kept.\n\nWhat some cities have started doing is refusing to collect the information, which there was no legal requirement that they collect. Because the information doesn't exist, it cannot be taken by the federal govt under the Patriot Act. So, if the federal govt wants that private information, they have to go get it themselves.\n\nIn other words, the cities had to choose between spying on their residents, in the name of security, or backing off and not collecting some types of information. Some chose to back off, rather than contribute to the govt monitoring. It's a gutsy choice, and it's tragic that the federal govt forced them to make it.
256609
Sorry, but Althea's answer is nonsense.  The government had not been running around checking all our library records.   For pity's sake, even if they WANTED to, they haven't a fraction of the resources it would take to do somtehing on such a scale!\n\n The Patriot Act does not even make any special mention of libraries (despite all the ridiculous hype).   It simply allows that, IF there's good reason to suspect you're up to something, the government can go after records from various sources (not listed, but video stores & libraries would be included, with all sorts of other places).   These sorts of provisions have been in place and used for decades to go after domestic criminals (e.g., "the mob").  The Patriot Act just allows investigators to do the same when they are trying to track down terrorists.    \n\nAnd please remember, they can't just do it willy nilly; they have to be able to show a judge that there is "probable cause".\n\nSo. . . I believe ANSWERS already IS covered, as it should be.  It just isn't mentioned by name.  And of course, if you're not plotting some sort of attack, I don't see any reason for you to be concerned.\n\n(BTW, has anyone brought forward a SINGLE instance of someone's rights being trampled under this act?)
718908
A never ending war to keep peoples attention off the corruption of their governement at home. Example, the war on terror. Its a war on an emotion! When is that going to end? Never. Thats the idea. Do you think the Patriot Act would ever have passed without 9-11 or Iraq? Just some stuff to think about.\n\n\npeace
1047285
The Patriot Act is a Constitutional emergency measure taken in a time of war.  It is NOTHING compared to the curtailment of liberties we experienced back during WWII, when Americans understood that 'loose lips sink ships' and were glad to see anyone blabbing arrested.\n\nEnemies benefit when we impose artificial barriers to their detection or when we fail to prosecute information leakers for Treason.\n\nBack during WWII the Press was not allowed to report on a great many things, especially anything that would give enemies feedback on what effect their operations were having against Americans.  Hardly anybody even knew of the Japanese fire-bombing attacks all across the US mainland.  Why?  Because the Press was trying to help the US win by denying the enemy any useful information.\n\nI think we have not gone far enough in detecting internal enemy activity or in putting the muzzle on the press.\n\nWar is a contest of will.  The ENEMY will try to discourage you from persisting in war.   Just look at who is trying to demoralize Americans today, working through our own press and hiding behind 'freedom of speech', and you will know who America's internal enemies are.  Look who defends the 'rights' of enemy combatants captured and held in detention.  Look at who trumpets any misdeed by our troops yet says little that might anger Americans against the enemy.  Look and see who serves the agenda of the enemy.\n\nMainly, Leftists.  Socialists.  Democrats.
1087299
Simple answer\n\nIt allows government intrusion in to the private lives of citizens in order to 'protect' us from terrorists.  It is the first step to totalitarian government.
1068048
You nailed it.  Look at what has occurred in the last 5 years since 9/11.  Patriot Act- it has compromised our rights as American citizens giving the government the right to impede on our privacy. The Iraq war- 2500 US military deaths and thousands of wounded, 450 billion dollars that could of gone to other social, education needs.  Our Political Climate- Have we ever been so divided (like a wedge being driven down the middle of our country)  Social Values-  When has freedom ever been so compromised.\n\nHas our enemies won?  I wouldnt say they have won but I would say they are winning the war.
942743
I don't think in the next 2-5 years, but yes I think the US is going that way.\nIf one reads history as to how those Nazi, Fascist, and Communist came to power, it was mainly supporting a "just cause" supported by the people.\nI would think the Patriot Act falls under one of those "just causes" by creating fear and the people so willing to give up freedoms  that our forefathers fought for in lieu of feeling secure when they are no more secure than yesterday. Then yet, the government has more control over you. Try updating your drivers license which will get a new issue date on it and then try opening a new bank account even with a US born and raised birth certificate and the Act won't allow you to. What kind of "just cause" is that to prevent me from changing banks? I was in the military and fought for this country in an unpopular war and I'm afraid that some day soon big brother can come and just pick you up and make you disappear without question. Just like the Nazi's did.
105458
The only people who claim the Patriot Act is anti-foreigners are those who haven't read the law.\nTo sum it up, the Patriot Acts does the following:\n1. Removes obstacles in investigating terrorism and improves intelligence gathering capabilities.\n2. Deals with Immigration and Travel into the United States allowing for tighter restriction.\n3. Gives more tools to fight the funding of terrorists.\n4. Helps us in securing our borders.\n5. Preservation of Immigration Benefits for Victims of Terrorism (How is that anti-foreigner???)\n\nThe link given below is a summary of the bill with links to the actual text direct from the online archives of the US government. There is no commentary or opinion, just the law itself.