Will they or can they make the patriot act a perminant fixture in our laws?
149770
The Patriot Act permits law enforcement to use special techniques, now currently being used to fight drug lords and mobsters, to fight terrorists.  It is a no-brainer since terrorism is a much larger problem.  Drug lords do not bring down World Trade Center buildings (where about 40,000 people were employed).  The use of the Patriot Act is under tight control and open to scrutiny by leaders of both parties.  You just know that in today's political atmosphere there would be a huge scandal for even minor abuses of the system.  The Patriot Act was made legal by Congress while NYC was still smoldering.  Hopefully it will help prevent another crater.  Do you really want to take a chance?
48294
The Voting Rights Act and the Patriot Act
10934
Who decides who is a suspected terrorist? \n\nLet me remind you of this: \n\nAmendment IV\n\nThe right of the people to be secure in their persons, houses, papers, and effects, against unreasonable searches and seizures, shall not be violated, and no warrants shall issue, but upon probable cause, supported by oath or affirmation, and particularly describing the place to be searched, and the persons or things to be seized. \n\nThe patriotic and legal way to tap someone's phone is to get a warrant from a judge, not an executive order. \n\nThe problem is that the executive branch is bypassing the judicial branch.  There is no seperation of power.
446204
In a ideal situation we should remove the laws that restrict posession by law abiding citizens.\n\nBut more importantly...\n\nENFORCE the laws we already have.
1009635
If you live in the United States, you are innocent until proved guilty. Don't let anyone tell you differently, especially the local detectives and cops. Even with the recent transfer of legislative power to the federal executive branch via the USA PATRIOT Act, you still have to be found guilty in a court of law. No court that abides by the U.S. constitution will expect you to prove your innocence.
456803
WHOEVER SAID IT, SURE WASN'T A REPUBLICAN!! THAT'S FOR SURE.  \n\nWHOEVER SAID IT WOULD ROLL OVER IN THEIR GRAVE IF HE KNEW WE HAD THE PATRIOT ACT NOW.
317629
I think the question is not "can" they be but "will" they be.  Seems to be a very poignant distinction in cases where elected officials commit crimes...
1024685
yes! yes! oh thank god someone out here has a brain! not only the patriot act though, adding an amendment is another problem, he's changing the constitution, the very thing this country was based on because he is a homophobe! freedom is being taken away from americans and i can't take it any longer! down with bush, up with freedom!
887966
Well, if you search for "Bill of Rights", and read through them all, that may give you some ideas. The Founding Fathers not only wanted to eliminate the abuses of King George (housing soldiers without permission of the owners; search and seizure without due process etc), but also, in their wisdom, wanted to protect our rights in the future.\n\nThe Patriot Act, was, of course enacted after the events of 9-11. There are still many unanswered questions about the events of that day; it was an act of terror, that not even Russia could have pulled off -- who then "threw the switch"; who brought down America's security screen? and, for what purpose? Didn't the Nazis do something similar, in the events around the "Reichstag Fire"? Didn't they suspend the German Constitution, in the name of "Protection"? Wasn't it the case, that then elections were suspended, for about 12 years?? Shouldn't we as citizens, be asking some tough questions, about this administration, and the President's "signing statements"? Why didn't the President, follow legal procedure, when ordering wiretaps of American citizens?\n\nIf we accept a suspension of our rights, what then can we expect? Does the Patriot Act, really provide any more protection, than we had before? Is there, perhaps, an "enemy within"??\n\nA few years ago, there was a case of a sniper, in Maryland and in Virginia, who murdered a number of people. One man was quoted on the news, "If we have to have a police state, so that I can mow my lawn in peace, then let's bring on the police state".\n\nIs that any way to live?? If we could put a man on the Moon, don't you think we (and other nations working with us) could root out the source of terrorism, if someone really wanted it to be stopped??\n\nHope that helps, to give you some ideas.
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.
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?)
1070163
There are already laws to protect our personal data,  just lack enforcement,  no need for new laws that won't be inforced either.\n\nIt is merley political posturing after the large amount of info that has been stolen,  no new law would have stoped those from happening, since the cause was poor supervision of the rules already in force
287638
Yes they can make any law they want. They often do. We vote them in we can vote them out, but this doesn't appear to do the trick either in many instances. It it my opinion that the corrupt corrupt others, so it is a never ending cycle. Many people have given up, so it mekes their ability to "do what they want" easier.
577822
See short answer from Sully already posted.  Under trial for "high crimes and misdemeanors" YOU BET YOUR SWEET ASS HE COULD!  If zippergate qualifies, taking away guaranteed constiutional rights from Americans privacy via passage and reauthorization of the Patriot Act (specifically section 213 and 215 which deal with "sneak and peak provisions" and the expansion of access to citizen's private medical records.)  SCREW THAT!
801423
there is no sure way of knowing, but, I am sure of one thing , there would have been more planes blown up and only god knows what else, or how many  people would have died,\nI just hope this patriot act will not mean we have lost the liberties \nthat we have lost that are supposedly temporarily
1030040
No, just that it must be protected. Some poeple seem to feel that it is less important that the 1st, 3rd, and latter amendments. After all if one shuld fall, why would the others not suffer the same fate?
1171495
Absolutely Not!\n\nTheres no reason they can't get a warrant. \n\n(Unless their spying on people they shouldn't be)