The USA Patriot Act- or How to Kill the First Amendment

In a rare moment of wisdom Congress placed a sunset expiration when they passed the USA Patriot Act after 9/11. I suppose they actually were concerned about the First Amendment, and their conscience bothered them. Now the Act is about to expire and it seems that we have another rare event- bipartisan action in the Senate- to ensure that it doesn’t go away. It seems we're solidifying the government that Jefferson warned us about- that when security becomes more important than freedom all would be lost.

What ever happened to accountability? Has anyone challenged to what extent the Patriot Act has caught terrorists on American soil? I don’t think they have- well maybe one or two (Possibly Zazi ) - maybe- and mightn’t we have caught them anyway without it?? I wonder if it’s really about terrorists at all. It appears that we’re really using this law to catch drug dealers. The sneak and peak without a warrant has been a boom to law enforcement. We don’t hear much about the instances of wrongful entry or innocent civilians being terrorized in their homes. And of course there’s the occasional collateral damage when civilians draw a gun to protect themselves from an apparent home invasion.

No one would oppose responsible actions to catch terrorists, but we seem to be using the Patriot Act at the expense of the First Amendment, and Congress is asleep at the wheel again. I can’t understand why Congress and the people are so blasé about a law that strikes at the heart of our nation’s freedom. Call your Senator and urge them to let the Patriot Act expire. Tell them the Constitution and the freedom of 300 million people is more important than one or two terrorists, regardless of their intentions against us.

Oh, and while you’re on the phone you might mention that Medicare-for-all would be a good thing too. You could remind them that 45,000 Americans die every year for lack of health care- 15 times more than 9/11- over and over every year.

NY Times Article:
http://www.nytimes.com/2009/10/08/opinion/08thu1.html?_r=2