Re: "smoked salmon socialists"

"usual suspect" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote in message
news:[EMAIL PROTECTED]
> Rubystars wrote:
> >>>You're right. I disagree with things like the patriot act because
> >>>I feel that it has the potential to erode private citizen's freedom and
> >>>privacy.
> >>
> >>Any specific instances in which this is happening or likely to happen?
> >
> > I oppose it on principle. I dont' like the government to have too much
power
> > over individual citizens.
>
> What specific part of it do you oppose?
>
> Many of the tools the Act provides to law enforcement to fight
> terrorism have been used for decades to fight organized crime
> and drug dealers, and have been reviewed and approved by the
> courts. As Sen. Joe Biden (D-DE) explained during the floor
> debate about the Act, "the FBI could get a wiretap to
> investigate the mafia, but they could not get one to investigate
> terrorists. To put it bluntly, that was crazy! What’s good for
> the mob should be good for terrorists." (Cong. Rec., 10/25/01)
> http://www.lifeandliberty.gov/
>
> Much of what's actually changed are issues related to "keeping up with
> technology," streamlining warrant processes, and improving inter-agency
> cooperation. You don't want agencies to cooperate? Even one of the
> Democrat Presidential candidates thinks they should:
> As Sen. John Edwards (D-N.C.) said about the Patriot Act, "we
> simply cannot prevail in the battle against terrorism if the
> right hand of our government has no idea what the left hand is
> doing." (Press release, 10/26/01)
> [same reference]
>
> I hear people complain about the Patriot Act all the time, but they
> won't (or can't) tell me specifically why it bothers them. When I
> explain its key provisions, they actually agree those are good measures.
> Go figure.
>

Most of it seems to be good and seems to be against terrorists, but I have
to wonder if the new leeway given to the government could be abused.

For example:

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
SEC. 105. EXPANSION OF NATIONAL ELECTRONIC CRIME TASK FORCE INITIATIVE.
The Director of the United States Secret Service shall take appropriate
actions to develop a national network of electronic crime task forces, based
on the New York Electronic Crimes Task Force model, throughout the United
States, for the purpose of preventing, detecting, and investigating various
forms of electronic crimes, including potential terrorist attacks against
critical infrastructure and financial payment systems.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

I'm worried this will now mean they can use this as an umbrella to do any
kind of spying on people that they want. Anyone could be labeled a
"potential terrorist."

Now most of what the patriot act talks about has to do with controlling
terrorists, and a lot of it is good stuff, but I just think it has a lot of
potential for abuse.

-Rubystars