Patriot Act I and II

Secret police, library record surveillance, wiretapping and forced detention, all done in secrecy, seems like a horror reserved for other countries, like Hitler¹s Germany, rather than something that is practiced in the "land of the free" USA. Perhaps it is the tendency that we have of being blind to what is directly in front of us, or maybe it is because we, as a people, are kept preoccupied and busy that many of us do not realize that with the passing of the Patriot Act on October 26, 2001, our government is doing just that. Now, with a bill dubbed the Patriot Act II, more Big Brother monitoring and control may be on its way.

The Patriot Act was hurriedly passed in the aftermath of 9-11. The word "patriot" in the Patriot Act is an acronym that spells out "Providing Appropriate Tools Required to Intercept and Obstruct Terrorism". While the premise of this act may seem justifiable, especially immediately after a tragedy that was categorized as an act of terrorism, this legislation slowly consumes many civil liberties that this country has prided itself on since its conception. This act gives law enforcement officials broader authority to conduct electronic surveillance and wiretaps. It also gives the president the authority to confiscate any and all property within US jurisdiction of anyone who is believed to be engaging in terrorism when the country is "under attack". The Act also affects financial activities and Immigration. The bill was passed by a vote of 357-66 by the House of Representatives and 98-1 by the Senate. "Today, we take an essential step in defeating terrorism while protecting the constitutional rights of all Americans," George W. Bush said during the signing ceremony. While Bush¹s rhetoric may have been convincing to the general public, the Act, in reality, infringes on our Constitutional Rights.

Patriot Act I