Meanwhile, some bad news on the home front:
Working with the Bush administration, Congressional Republicans are maneuvering to make permanent the sweeping antiterrorism powers granted to federal law enforcement agents after the attacks of Sept. 11, 2001, officials said today.
The move is likely to touch off strong objections from many Democrats and even some Republicans in Congress who believe that the Patriot Act, as the legislation that grew out of the attacks is known, has already given the government too much power to spy on Americans.
The campaign in Iraq is all but over, but the battles here at home are just beginning.
Indeed. I don't understand why more people aren't upset about this. I still resent being forced to be searched by government agents in order to fly on an airplane despite the total absence of reasonable suspicion, let alone probable cause.
I understand that there are tradeoffs between liberty and security, but it seems like we're not getting much added security in this deal.
"Those who would trade liberty for a bit more security deserve neither"
- Benjamin Franklin
TO: Stephen
RE: Never...
...a dull moment.
Regards,
Chuck(le)
[The people...are the only sure reliance for the preservation of our liberty. --Thomas Jefferson to James Madison]
I agree. I asked 5 of my closest friends about the Patriot II act and NONE of them were aware of it. Not in the least! Needless to say, they were not happy about the implications it presents, should it pass. The one point I found most disturbing were the powers that were supposed to expire in a few years, will be made permanent. I'm not too happy about that AT ALL.
Here's to hoping that our Representatives realize this is a huge mistake and shoot this piece of legislation (which if I'm not mistaken, is all Ashcroft) out of the water before it goes any further...
~Dak
The battle has also started up again in a way that will make Carnivore look like a vegetarian WinDoze application beta release.
No encryption for anyone but the government looks to be what it boils down to.
"Here's to hoping that our Representatives realize this is a huge mistake and shoot this piece of legislation ...out of the water ...before it goes any further"
I think we can't count on our Reps to do that. I think we have to actively call on them and make certain they don't get our votes unless they DO protect our civil rights. Easy for something like this to slip on by people given all the sensational imagry on TV.
And what about how we can't now access information about Bush 41 -- the freedom of information act that 43 made go away for his dad?
