OMFG!!! Ok I heard about the Patriot Act but I never really thought it would be taken seriously. Before I get ahead of myself the Patriot Act is an act that gives authorities the right to spy, bug, tap phone lines etc. of individuals suspected of terrorism & other heinous acts. (Now granted I HATE & LOATH terrorists with a vengeance!!! Bombing elementary schools is NO way to get followers & respect; in fact it’s just pure, undiluted evil carried out by cowards!) But breaking one of the constitutional amendments that make our country so great & free is also evil! At the time the USA was borne the Fourth Amendment was very groundbreaking (for full Fourth Amendment look below). It was not unusual for governments to spy on their citizens & enemies if they thought they were going to cause a problem. But now Bush actually has the gall to say that by taking away some of our freedoms we “protect” our freedom. Now that doesn’t make any sense to me. It reminds me of that African proverb taught to Princes who were to become Kings. How can you rule if you have nothing to rule? So how can you have freedom if you have no freedom?

But thank the Powers that Be that our Founding Fathers had sense enough to see that something along that line may happen & installed checks & balances in the government. So that Presidents couldn’t just make laws but instead had to submit acts to Congress. Then Congress would actually have to approve various acts before they became law. Now that is the end of my personal opinion but for further info read further.

Fourth Amendment:

“The right of the people to be secure in their persons, houses, papers, and effects, against unreasonable searches and seizures, shall not be violated, and no warrants shall issue, but upon probable cause, supported by oath or affirmation, and particularly describing the place to be searched, and the persons or things to be seized.”

First Amendment:

“Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press; or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the government for a redress of grievances.”

The Patriot Act, in short, gives authorities the “right” to:

• Search Library records
• Tap phone lines
• Bug houses, cars, offices etc.
• Search houses, cars, etc.
• All without a warrant