The Patriot Act:                                                                Back

The Patriot Act is an important tool for fighting terrorism but it has to be reviewed & some of the provisions will have to be eliminated or changed.

Can you imagine this power in the hands of Richard Nixon or Joseph McCarthy?

Well right now it's in the hands of John Ashcroft and already there have been Judges who have thrown out convictions, we see Amnesty International and other human rights groups questioning our treatment of prisoners. I belonged to Amnesty International for years during the 70s. Then they fought the abuse of prisoners in places like the Middle East & China, The Soviet Union & South America. I never thought they would condemn  the U. S. but now they have. We have to review the patriot act. It may not need any changes but we have to find out. We can't just rubber stamp it.

I have only one question for you. Just how much of your freedom & privacy are you willing to give up? Oh! I just thought of a couple more. Who do think wins if we exchange our freedom for safety? Do you really want to change the Bill of Rights because of terrorists?

George Bush wants to make the Patriot Act permanent, just the way it is.

John Kerry said that although he was for it originally, he has had second thoughts & believes to needs to be reviewed (A flip Flop?) Many other Senators feel the same way. The act was pushed through, in a hurry, after 9/11. Now we have time to review it and make any corrections we need to make. If we're going to create a new set of rules for our judicial system, let's take the time to get it right.

Oct. 2nd. I just heard on CNN that Attorney General John Ashcroft is trying to use the Patriot Act to breach the 1st amendment. He is trying to make reporters reveal their sources on some of the leaks that came out of the White House over the last few months. I'm not sure which ones as I only heard a little of the news. I'll try to find out more. but what ever they are they have to be protected. I for one would love to know who leaked the name of Joe Wilson's wife as a CIA agent to Robert Novak but that information has to be kept secret. Reporters have, many times over the years, sat in jail in contempt of court to maintain that right. If we remove that protection how many whistle blowers will take the chance of reporting wrong doings in their offices. Would there have ever been a Watergate? We would never gain what we would lose if we took away the reporters right to protect his sources.

Oct. 30th. 2004: (CNN) IRS may probe NAACP over Bush WASHINGTON (Reuters) - The NAACP is facing an Internal Revenue Service investigation because the chairman of the civil rights group criticized President Bush, according to a report published Friday, citing documents provided by the group. What a great way to stifle political discord and another way the Patriot Act could be misused. Do you really trust John Ashcroft with that kin of power?

We have to take a good look at the Patriot Act.