I haven't seen this discussed and scrutinized around here or anywhere for that matter. It should be because it affects everything in our life.
While looking up info on it, I found this speech by Senator Russ Feingold who was the only "Nay" voter (98-1 senate vote).
My position is that he is the true patriot and not the other way around. Everyone knows about the patriot act's existance, but to read exactly all our rights Congress voluntarily gave up for us is just scary.
We cannot "give up" rights temporaily. Once the right has been waived it cannot be returned and that's the misconception I think people have. A government is not and will not be willing to restore our rights that are being taken away slowly but surely.
Below are some things I found of interest
Quote:
Of course, there is no doubt that if we lived in a police state, it would be easier to catch terrorists. If we lived in a country that allowed the police to search your home at any time for any reason; if we lived in a country that allowed the government to open your mail, eavesdrop on your phone conversations, or intercept your email communications; if we lived in a country that allowed the government to hold people in jail indefinitely based on what they write or think, or based on mere suspicion that they are up to no good, then the government would no doubt discover and arrest more terrorists.
But that probably would not be a country in which we would want to live. And that would not be a country for which we could, in good conscience, ask our young people to fight and die. In short, that would not be America.
|
Quote:
We must maintain our vigilance to preserve our laws and our basic rights.
We in this body have a duty to analyze, to test, to weigh new laws that the zealous and often sincere advocates of security would suggest to us. This is what I have tried to do with this anti-terrorism bill. And that is why I will vote against this bill when the roll is called.
Protecting the safety of the American people is a solemn duty of the Congress; we must work tirelessly to prevent more tragedies like the devastating attacks of September 11th. We must prevent more children from losing their mothers, more wives from losing their husbands, and more firefighters from losing their heroic colleagues. But the Congress will fulfill its duty only when it protects both the American people and the freedoms at the foundation of American society. So let us preserve our heritage of basic rights. Let us practice as well as preach that liberty. And let us fight to maintain that freedom that we call America.
|
{edit}
Here is the full speech...
http://www.truthout.org/docs_01/10.27C.Feingold.htm