http://www.nytimes.com/2015/05/01/u...es-revisions-backed-by-both-parties.html?_r=0 Looks like the patriot act is up for revisions that will put a stop to unlawful tracking of internet and phone calls without probable cause or warrant. Isn't this a violation to our civil rights in the first place?
The revisions will look good on paper but will the government stop all their spying? I don't think so. The Patriot Act gave allowed them to openly spy on everyone and when that right is repealed by revisions they'll do it secretly just like they used to in the past. It's all a ploy to hoodwink people I think so they'll be more willing to surrender more civil liberties when something worse than 9/11 is orchestrated.
I think sensible profiling is better and much cheaper than simply en masse spying on and intruding on the rights of any and everyone. Of course that's not politically correct these days.
It is a violation of our rights, you are totally right there Josh. The times were other, people were scared about terrorism and now slowly the anything goes laws are starting to disappear, at least in the paper.
The Patriot Act merely helped to ensure that domestic acronym agencies (CIA, DEA, FBI, ATF, etc.) receive any and all munitions they require to infringe wherever they want. I believe it has made a complete farce out of homeland security. These agencies have proved; time and time again that they are incapable of being reeled in - simply because there's no existence of any measure of accountability. They masquerade themselves pompously and take whatever steps necessary to implement measures which have put every American on a leash. This flame must be put out, if not, its slow boil will wipe out any remnant that liberty ever existed in our country.
I did a napkin calculation of how much the cost of the TSA costs USA in lost time every year. First I looked up the amount of commerical flights every day. Then I assumed each plane held 50 passengers, and that the TSA causes everyone to waste atleast 1 extra hour per flight. Assuming that a person's time is worth $10 per an hour, the figure was huge. These hidden costs are much larger then the actual cost of the security etc. Pretty much it is equivalent to the Arabs doing a 911 every day in terms of cost.
While I agree that it's a violation of people's rights, I also think a lot of fuss is being made over this but not for any particular reason. If somebody doesn't have anything to hide, then I don't really see it as being much of a problem anyway. At the end of the day, if it is going to make a country safer, then shouldn't people just accept it?
I differ strongly with libertarians on this issue. I do think we need some kind of apparatus to thwart terrorism. It's just not realistic to not have extensive capabilities in this age of islamic terrorism and the threat of nuclear weapons. I believe the government has done a decent job of not trampling on our liberties. It's a balance that has to be struck between security and liberty. Of course the possibility of abuse is there, but as long as peoples rights aren't being infringed I'm okay with the existence of The Patriot Act.
Traditionally we've always had phone companies keeping records of these things. Then law enforcement could go in with warrants when needed. I'm not entirely comfortable with our government doing this.
The if you have nothing to hide, you have nothing to fear, argument sounds familiar. I think I heard it some place before. Oh wait isn't that what guys like Mao, Hitler and Stalin said ? Before Hitler came to power, Germany used to be one of the most liberal and tolerant nations in the world. Even when it came to blacks and Jews, Germans compared to other Europeans where extremely tolerant. Then when Hitler started to gain power, he did do things like put people back to work, but he started to implement laws similar to the Patriot act. The average German said don't worry this could never happen in Germany. The Hitler example has been played too much, but the same principal holds true for every dictator that gained power. Originally they had popular support, the next thing they do is take away rights.
