Patriot Act: Facts emerge from the shadows By GAIL RUSSELL CHADDOCK
TIME ISN'T EASING concerns over the enhanced law-enforcement powers of the USA Patriot Act, judging by the debate that's firing up on Capitol Hill over the renewal of its expiring provisions.
President Bush calls the Patriot Act an invaluable tool in the war on terror, but, until last week, little was known about where, why or how often the law has been applied.
At the same time, confusion persists over what the law actually does. Critics sometimes conflate Patriot Act provisions with other controversial moves, such as indefinite detentions at Guantanamo Bay, Cuba, that have nothing to do with the act. Two weeks ago, Montana became the fifth state to pass a resolution critical of the Act. Since 2001, more than 375 local governments have passed resolutions criticizing the law or declaring "civil liberties safe zones" in a bid to discourage cooperation with the law.
Read the entire article at:
http://www.bergen.com/page.php?qstr=eXJpcnk3ZjczN2Y3dnFlZUVFeXkzOTcmZmdiZWw3Zjd2cWVlRUV5eTY2Nzc1MDQmeXJpcnk3ZjcxN2Y3dnFlZUVFeXkxNA==*FW Note: Maybe no abuses have been reported because the abuses are whitewashed and covered up. After all, once you make it known that someone is a "suspected terrorist", who really keeps track of what happens to them after that, for fear of becoming an accomplice?
According to accounts collected by the ACLU, the threat of investigation resulting from Section 215 fishing expeditions already has inhibited people "from publicly expressing their political views, attending and practicing their religion, engaging in political activity, donating money to legitimate charitable organizations, and visiting particular websites."
When government fears The People there is Liberty. When The People fear the government, there is tyranny.
:shock:
