[jmc813]

Not even that. Why not have an "OOPS...not terrorism! My Bad!" clause backing up the whole Patriot Act. That is, just stipulate that any evidence found in a "terrorism" investigation CANNOT and WILL NOT be used in any NON-TERRORIST prosecution.

I personally think that is a great idea.

[Rome2000]

As a "Citizen" you tell the government every April 15th where you work, where you live,what your job title is, how much money you make, how much money you have in the bank and what bank that is, your marital status, how many kids you have and their ages, how much you spend on medical insurance, how much your mortgage is, what you pay or do not pay in alimony, how much you gave to charity, etc....

If you refuse to do so you will be jailed.

In light of that fact, objecting to a law that simply makes it easier to catch terrorists trying to massacre thousands of Americans seems rather silly.

[sam_paine]

I think it is a litmus test for anyone that believes that such provisions are suddenly necessary for fighting terrorism.

If they are really just concerned about terrorism, then exempt non-terrorism out of the scope. Plain and simple.

That, I think, would squelch all reasonable opposition to the Patriot Act. I know I wouldn't mind the cops coming in as much if I knew that all they were looking for was UBL's friends.

I think the concern of most libertarianesque type thinkers is that this is too easily turned into, "Well....no terrorists......but gee whiz, while we're already here.....let's check for guns, and child abuse and environmental lawbreakers and tax cheats and what else are you probably guilty of, Mr. Suspect?????"

The rejoinder is "well, if you're breaking laws, why SHOULDN'T the cops use any means to GET you?" Well, I think with the Federal Code as large as it is, I'm sure we are ALL breaking some kind of restriction at any given time!

I don't want the fat overbloated government's Police Foot to step down directly on my trying-to-abide-innocent head.