A Shield That’s Working (Homeland Security and the Patriot Act)

The Heritage Foundation ^ | January 29, 2004 | Edwin J. Feulner

[quidnunc]

The federal government does many things. It pays farmers to grow — or not grow — crops. It racks up huge bills for pork-barrel items ranging from bike paths to tattoo removal. It even runs programs that hand out condoms to high-school children.

The list goes on and on. Small wonder the federal government spent $20,000 per household last year.

But there’s one important job it’s supposed to be doing: Protecting us from foreign threats. That’s why we should give credit where it is due.

The leadership of President Bush and his foreign policy team has made us safer today than we were last year — and far safer than we were on Sept. 10, 2001.

-snip-

The Justice Department is judiciously enforcing the Patriot Act, which took a number of laws already on the books and applied them to terrorism — without violating our civil rights. As former Attorney General Edwin Meese has observed: “There are now more protections, including the requirement of a judicial authority to get third-party records such as library records. This is not the ability to go into someone’s home and take his private papers.”

-snip-

[KantianBurke]

cough...southern border...cough...wide open...cough...only a matter of time before its exploited if it hasn't already been...cough.

[freeeee]

"The Justice Department is judiciously enforcing the Patriot Act, which took a number of laws already on the books and applied them to terrorism"... and strip clubs.

And soon, anything else they feel like:

"The Patriot Act was not meant to be just for terrorism"
- Department of Justice spokesman Mark Corallo

[Lysander]

This is not the ability to go into someone’s home and take his private papers...

Oh I get it we only have rights in our homes now.

[AuthenticLiberal]

Thanks John Ashcroft for convincing Bush that priority #1 was to secure our borders lest terrorists walk across after enjoying a nice vacation in Cancun! I have not bought this War on Terror bs from day one. The Bush administration has done nothing of note to make us safer from terror. The Saudis and Iranians are still actively financing terrorists, our borders are insecure and Al Qaeda's confederates Hamas and Hezbollah still act with impunity.

[Daphne]

It's time people realize that freedom isn't free - sacrifices need to made for safety and to avoid another 9/11.

I'd like to ask anyone who opposes the Patriot Act whether its ever affected them or anyone they know personally. Probably not. That's because most people don't give anyone the reason to suspect them of being or helping terrorists. So why would it affect them?

The Patriot Act was designed to catch terrorists, and that's who it's affecting negatively. And it should be.

[agitator]

Do you want Hillary ordering a bureaucrat to rummage through your financial records from every source there is with no judicial oversight, no due process, no probable cause?

A third of the alleged Patriot Act relates to financial matters that have been on a police state wish list since day one and as soon as some prostitutor figures out what he can do with it, you'll see it being used for everything under the sun. Furthermore, those provisions don't expire.

Try reading it first, and look up what a "national security letter" is and how a letter from the fat lady at the DMV gives virtually any investigative agency free run of your financial life. This is nothing but the modern day equivalent of a "Writ of Assistance."

After our government decides to tighten up the gaping holes on the border, then come back to me and we'll talk about the fat lady from the DMV rummaging through my financial life.

[Daphne]

(Just for the record, I have read it. If i hadn't read it, i wouldn't have an opinion on it).

Even though I still agree with the act, i admit some might have a reason to disagree. But if you're going to criticize then you should have a better plan to combat the problem.

So, Patriot Act opposers, what should we do instead of the Patriot Act that will still keep us safe and prevent another 9/11? Any ideas?

[Ben Ficklin]

Sorry about that Mr. Agitator, but when it comes to the patriot act, I will agree with Meese and Bork, rather than you.

[Possenti]

So, Patriot Act opposers, what should we do instead of the Patriot Act that will still keep us safe and prevent another 9/11? Any ideas?

One word:

non-interventionism (or is that TWO words?)

By not observing that policy, we got our nose smacked before, and it'll certainly happen again as long as we keep sticking it where it doesn't belong.

Flame/preach/screech/whine away. It won't change the facts. Police state supporters need to face reality.

[agitator]

You're entitled to your opinion, even if it's wrong :)