Did you hear that the PATRIOT Act is up for re-authorization? No? Well, perhaps the US intelligence services can still keep a secret.

President George W. Bush signed the PATRIOT Act into law on October 26, 2001. Nearly a decade later, some of its the most noxious provisions have burrowed their way deep into our legal system.

A year ago, President Obama signed a bill extending three provisions of the original Patriot Act. Last week Congressman Mike Rogers (R-Michigan), Chair of the House Intelligence Committee, introduced another extension of those provisions, triggering what's sure to be a bipartisan effort to continue to deny Americans their civil liberties.

The bill starts with so-called "roving wiretaps" that allow the government to spy on a nebulous array of individuals and devices, without specifying any of them ahead of time. The FBI could, with a single search warrant, raid every house or office that an individual suspect has visited over an entire year -- every single place, whether or not the residents themselves are suspects.

Then there's the eerily-named "lone wolf" provision, which lets the government apply the full power of the special courts created to deal with foreign spies against anyone who the government alleges is "preparing to attack." You don't even have to commit a crime to get these super-powered courts targeting you -- the Justice Department says that just visiting a flagged website would be enough!

But worst of all is the infamous "Section 215". This incredible provision allows the government to take whatever they want -- your phone records, medical records, email history, whatever -- without having to show you're suspected of a crime, or even relevant to an investigation! But it gets worse -- not only can the government just search through your personal records whenever they feel like it, but everyone involved is under a gag order to never let you know that you're being spied on -- and to ensure that you can never challenge the order in court. The government could be looking through your emails right now and you'll never even know.

The ACLU has a quick-and-dirty overview of some of the problems with these provisions over here.

Together, these provisions make a mockery of our civil liberties -- letting the government spy on whomever they want, for any reason, without ever letting them know or giving them a chance to challenge the order in court. There's a reason that even after 9/11, these provisions were seen as a bridge too far. But now it's almost full decade later, and Republicans are leading the way to extend them yet again!

Enough is enough -- will you join us in demanding that Congress finally let these provisions expire?
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/david-segal/who-knew-patriot-act-up-f_b_809457.html

10 to one Hussein signs it in again.

I am sure he will. There has been little in the media about it simply because the powers that be wish no debate on it and simply will pass it. NOthing in current events compares to this, rights that have been in place since the Magna Carta are shredded by this. From the media not a word. Its clear to me that the media government and business are all in this together. I think its called fascism.

Franklin D. Roosevelt“ The first truth is that the liberty of a democracy is not safe if the people tolerate the growth of private power to a point where it becomes stronger than their democratic state itself. That, in its essence, is fascism — ownership of government by an individual, by a group, or by any other controlling private power. ”
— Franklin D. Roosevelt, "Message from the President of the United States
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Definitions_of_fascism

I hope he does. It has saved lives since being implemented. The only people who need to worry are the ones who are trying to hide something.

Would depend on who 'administers' provisions of that law. If an organization with an 'ideological lean' is admin for it those that oppose that 'lean' could find themeselves condidered 'enemies of the state'.

Hitler told the jews they had nothing to worry about from his SS (while he was rounding up the 'communists')... Did not take him long however to 'switch' from communists to jews.

silence = death.

Again reality and your opinion are on opposit ends, but dont feel bad most of umerika has the same opinion. I suppose one has to ask yourself, how many people in Guantanamo have been found guilty of anything? You will be suprised at the answer. gooogle it. Anyhow the number is few, and how reliable is evidence gained under torture? Wouldnt a person being toruted admit to anything to make it stop? Basicly we gave up our rights so people can be snatched up and tortured simply because someone possibly with an agenda ratted them out. Let alone how laughable this country looks when we try to lecture other countries about human rights, as when china came to town. When a person wonders what is wrong with this country all they need to do is see the post on this thread saying how glad a person is that we no longer have rights as men. Its pretty simple realy Its not a dem or repug issue. Its a matter of is the america of the future going to be a country worth defending or just another third world backwater with a rich elite and a poor mass of people who have no rights. I think some people side with the type that is creating a third world america despite the fact they and their kids if they have any will fall into the lower class when its all said and done.