What exactly is the patriot act?
144561
Police State Legislation wrapped up in a flag.
707805
True, but what is a Patriot?
498776
pretty much the entire bush administrations homeland security and patriot act.
238349
Ordinary, law abiding citizens have nothing to worry about with the Patriot Act... for example, if you don't make phone calls to Afghanistan to discuss ways to kill Americans from a US phone, you have nothing to worry about!  Who are the people complaining about this... are they criminals?  I don't understand the fear of those who say this is an attack on civil liberties... the opposite is true.  The ACLU defends terrorists in Guantanamo in the interest of civil liberties... so they can attack us again -and if they get their way, maybe we will all live under Sharia law in the US... with no civil liberties... don't people get it?  Freedom isn't free... it has to be guarded.  The Patriot Act GUARDS the freedom of regular, law-abiding citizens... if that scares some, I question what they are doing that they would worry that the government would actually stumble upon something dealing with them while tracking terrorist movements and conversations!!!!  I for one am not concerned as I am more interested in my children's future than that of the terrorists or criminals.\n\nLet me just ask one question of those who hate the Act... Have you in the last five years since it was passed, had your personal liberties directly threatened or negated by this Act?  Or is it just a fad to disagree?
319630
The evidence collected by the NSA, for example, when monitoring traffic from an enemy in some other country contacting some one here had better be admissible in court or we are all in danger of the next 9/11. The patriot act gives us the tools necessary to (hopefully) prevent terrorists\nfrom doing us any more harm here or abroad. Had Clinton had that available the first time the twin towers were attacked, we may have prevented 9/11 from ever happening.
259660
No, I don't support it.  I haven't had the time to read the entire act, but I've read parts of it, and I've read various summaries.  It gives the federal government FAR too much power, and really does nothing to stop terrorism.  \n\nFor anyone who talks about how there hasn't been an attack on US soil since 9/11, when was the last one before 2001?  That would be the Oklahoma City bombing in 1995.  Yeah, in the past four years, the rate of terrorist attacks has dropped from one every six years to what, exactly?  The only other terrorist attacks on US soil were in 1920, 1975, and 1993.  Yeah, we can really see the change in four years.\n\nBetween 1995 and 2001 there were three terrorist attacks against Americans abroad.  Between 2001 and 2005 there were six.  Yeah, the Patriot Act is sure stopping those terrorists in their tracks.\n\nLast I checked, all the people who orchestrated 9/11 who didn't die in the bombing are still out there.  Yeah, we catching so many terrorists thanks to the Patriot Act.\n\nTo summarize, the Patriot Act does nothing to fight terrorism but a whole lot to fight the civil rights of American citizens.
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?)
474204
According to the Homeland Security Act.... Nothing!\n\n\nYou will not be able to debunk this fact.
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.
995377
Well, there's the Freedom Of Infomation Act, so any one can get any infomation they want except those pretaining to state security. Even criminals make use of this before launching their activities.
720539
no and it is not the united states government that allowed this it was the american people who allowed the patriot act. if u think about it the people vote for the people who make these laws. when we stop caring it just allows it i remember signing the petition to stop the patriot act there wa this guy who was standing on the corner of the street trying to inform people about it but every one did not care they just kept walking like it did not matter. the funny thing is now millions of people were crying about it. the american people are in a deep sleep. they have become puppets to corporate american going to work for their paychecks that barley give them nough money to support themselves. it is the new breed of slavory. until the american people wake up this will not go away.
160779
The American Civil Liberties Union Wednesday, July 30, 2003, filed the first lawsuit against the Patriot Act, the anti-terrorism law passed after the attacks of September 11, 2001. \n\nThe lawsuit claims one section of the law authorizing searches of records, including those of businesses, libraries and bookstores, is unconstitutional. \n\n"This lawsuit challenges the constitutionality of Section 215 of the USA Patriot Act, which vastly expands the power of the Federal Bureau of Investigation to obtain records and other 'tangible things' of people not suspected of criminal activity," the lawsuit states. \n\nThe ACLU filed the lawsuit in U.S. District Court in Michigan on behalf of six mostly Arab and Muslim-American groups. \n\nThe groups claim the provisions of the law allowing the searches violates the Constitution's First, Fourth and Fifth amendments. \n\nThey include the Muslim Community Association of Ann Arbor, Arab Community Center for Economic and Social Services and the Islamic Center of Portland, Masjed As-Saber.
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.
345794
Sure, pay attention to the opinions of the Supreme and Federal Courts.  Also, actually read the bills going through the legislature.  At this point, a good place to start is with the Patriot Act.  See http://www.epic.org/privacy/terrorism/hr3162.html
791324
It ought to be, abolishing the patriot act is a priority which is why Bush is pressing the outgoing congress to pass a tougher wire tap version now!\n\nBen Franklin said if one is willing to sacrifice someliberties for security soon you will have neither
48294
The Voting Rights Act and the Patriot Act
577473
Get used to it! John Ashcroft and his clan at the old Clinton Bordello have come up with ..."THE PATRIOT ACT" .\n   We are  ALL gonna have to  (eventually)  have to roll over to the elected profiteers in Washington, DE SLEAZE. \n   Don't get a chip on  (or in) your shoulder, you're not being singled out by any means. The Government is out to take over everyones life and means of existence.