Chuck P Adams
June 22nd 03, 11:17 PM
From The Los Angeles Times, 6/20/03:
http://www.latimes.com/news/local/coastline/columnists/la-cpt-muse20jun20,
1,2054971.story
Which patriots exactly does the act protect?
By Catharine Cooper
"My inclination to be relieved of having to think, particularly about
unpleasant facts, helped to sway the balance. In this I did not differ
from millions of others. Such mental slackness above all facilitated,
established and finally assured the success of the National Socialist
system."
-- ALBERT SPEER, Hitler's Reichminister of Armaments and Munitions
In every direction I turn, my civil rights are quietly being eroded
behind volumes of rhetoric.
The Patriot Act stands as the most glaring of such efforts, chipping
away at my personal freedom and right of privacy.
On its heels, CAPPS II further degrades the promises to citizens of
the United States, made by the Constitution and the Bill of Rights.
Many have questioned, after serious review, how Congress could have
passed the Patriot Act.
The act itself, "To deter and punish terrorist acts in the United
States and around the world, to enhance law enforcement investigatory
tools, and for other purposes," sounded logical in the heated
emotional environment post Sept. 11.
Passed on Oct. 25, 2001, as retaliatory energy swirled throughout the
country, there was no congressional debate about any of its Sections
or Titles.
A brilliant and perfectly timed stroke, to implement a long-standing
plan and far-reaching agenda, by those who would undermine our
freedoms.
A review of the document further reveals why there was such silence.
The document itself is 127 pages, and referential to prior United
States Code filings.
This is not a straightforward or simple read and it affects all of us.
It is confusing and difficult, if not impossible, to comprehend.
Broad sweeping in its scope, the Act allows for the gathering of
information from education facilities, credit facilities, financial
institutions, allows for oral, wire and electronic taps, seizure of
voice mail messages, without warrant, all within the framework of
"suspected terrorist activities."
Basically, it allows for the gathering of the history of one's life.
Section 626 further enhances their power, by " '(c) CONFIDENTIALITY --
No consumer reporting agency, or officer, or employee, or agent of
such consumer reporting agency, shall disclose to any person, or
specify in any consumer report, that a government agency has sought or
obtained access to information under subsection (a)."
In other words, the government can slip into your private records
without a trace.
Talk about Big Brother watching you.
__________________________________________________ ____
"There ought to be limits to freedom"
Georgie W. Dumwit -- at a press conference at the Texas State House,
May 21, 1999
http://www.latimes.com/news/local/coastline/columnists/la-cpt-muse20jun20,
1,2054971.story
Which patriots exactly does the act protect?
By Catharine Cooper
"My inclination to be relieved of having to think, particularly about
unpleasant facts, helped to sway the balance. In this I did not differ
from millions of others. Such mental slackness above all facilitated,
established and finally assured the success of the National Socialist
system."
-- ALBERT SPEER, Hitler's Reichminister of Armaments and Munitions
In every direction I turn, my civil rights are quietly being eroded
behind volumes of rhetoric.
The Patriot Act stands as the most glaring of such efforts, chipping
away at my personal freedom and right of privacy.
On its heels, CAPPS II further degrades the promises to citizens of
the United States, made by the Constitution and the Bill of Rights.
Many have questioned, after serious review, how Congress could have
passed the Patriot Act.
The act itself, "To deter and punish terrorist acts in the United
States and around the world, to enhance law enforcement investigatory
tools, and for other purposes," sounded logical in the heated
emotional environment post Sept. 11.
Passed on Oct. 25, 2001, as retaliatory energy swirled throughout the
country, there was no congressional debate about any of its Sections
or Titles.
A brilliant and perfectly timed stroke, to implement a long-standing
plan and far-reaching agenda, by those who would undermine our
freedoms.
A review of the document further reveals why there was such silence.
The document itself is 127 pages, and referential to prior United
States Code filings.
This is not a straightforward or simple read and it affects all of us.
It is confusing and difficult, if not impossible, to comprehend.
Broad sweeping in its scope, the Act allows for the gathering of
information from education facilities, credit facilities, financial
institutions, allows for oral, wire and electronic taps, seizure of
voice mail messages, without warrant, all within the framework of
"suspected terrorist activities."
Basically, it allows for the gathering of the history of one's life.
Section 626 further enhances their power, by " '(c) CONFIDENTIALITY --
No consumer reporting agency, or officer, or employee, or agent of
such consumer reporting agency, shall disclose to any person, or
specify in any consumer report, that a government agency has sought or
obtained access to information under subsection (a)."
In other words, the government can slip into your private records
without a trace.
Talk about Big Brother watching you.
__________________________________________________ ____
"There ought to be limits to freedom"
Georgie W. Dumwit -- at a press conference at the Texas State House,
May 21, 1999