The Patriot Act doesn't give the government any power contra terrorists that it hasn't always had versus, say, mafia dons. If you consider a court-ordered wiretap an intolerable intrusion on your rights, you need to take your anger several decades before the Patriot Act.
BZZZZZZZZZT! Sorry, the correct answer was, "The ability to seize records held by third parties without warrant, notification, subpeona or probable cause does violate the fourth Amendment." But thank you for playing!
you need to take your anger several decades before the Patriot Act.
Oh, I never said the Patriot Act was the beginning of the police state. That's hard to trace exactly--Washington's provocation of the Whiskey Rebellion was a step over the line, as was the Louisiana Purchase... and of course Lincoln killed and buried federalism...