The true name of this Act is not "The Patriot Act," but rather "Uniting and Strengthening America by Providing Tools Required to Intercept and Obstruct Terrorism (USA PATRIOT) Act of 2001."
In other words, it has nothing to do with patriotism, rather it is a clever acronym created to make it seem as though patriotism were at its core. Why did they do this? If you remeber the non-debate over this Act, the brief mentions by Ashcroft, et.al., were along the lines of "To question or vote against this Act would be unpatriotic." What politician wants to be tarred with that brush?
I am glad that some of the "common folk" that this Act is supposed to protect are questioning the need for its extremes, as their elected representatives should have.
__________________
The difference between theory and reality is that in theory there is no difference.
"God made man, but he used the monkey to do it." DEVO
|