As you hopefully know, this past week the US House of Representatives voted on whether or not to extend three controversial provisions of the USA PATRIOT Act. The vote failed due to some legislative maneuvering that required a 2/3rds majority for passage.
Here is some information for those of you who want to know more about the PATRIOT Act.
First, we have Wikipedia.
Next, a 3 part article written in October 2009. Some of the info is a little outdated, but most of it is still relevant.
And here is a video from Senator Rand Paul regarding the PATRIOT Act. It expresses the feelings of many people in the most eloquent way I have seen thus far. Please take a few minutes to watch it.
The act extending the provisions is expected to go through legislative channels and be voted on again. This time, it will only require a simple majority to pass. If you do not want your liberties and 4th Amendment rights threatened, I urge you to call your Congressperson. They need to know how you feel, and how you would like them to vote.
Please ask your representative to vote "NO" on H.R. 514
Perhaps we can get enough reps to listen to their constituents and not allow this bill to pass.
Tony, thanks for blogging this. I'll past my previous message to you here.
ReplyDeleteI Agree with his concerns. I remember when the thing was fist enacted, it made me very uncomfortable. I understand why it was created, but I think it was a bit of a knee jerk reaction to the attacks. It needs to be thought out a little more.
Maybe it has been successful in helping find terrorists, but it does have the potential of finding any other group of people that the government suddenly defines as threatening. There is room for abuse for sure. There is no reason why one day Christians won't be targeted. (If they are not already)
Yes I believe that we have traded freedom for security, but I don't feel any more secure now than before. I do, however feel less free. (We are losing both.)
It kinda makes me laugh, in a sad way, to think that we live in a land that has the Patriot Act that allows the government to spy on us while at the same time the Privacy Act is supposed to protect our private and important information.
To contact your senators, go here:
ReplyDeletehttp://www.senate.gov/general/contact_information/senators_cfm.cfm
Contact both of your senators via email, phone call and fax if possible. Tell all of your like-minded friends and family to do the same.
The Pauls are the only people in Washington preaching liberty, and I am more thankful for them everyday.
Great post, Tony.