Without that fundamental constraint, the FBI has engaged in flagrant violations of law, and Congress has been docilely complicit in those violations, exercising its oversight authority just enough to be on notice that violations are occurring, but not enough to curb them. They wrote a Constitution of limited powers and an explicit Bill of Rights to protect liberty in times of war, as well as in times of peace.”. The USA Patriot Act became law ten years ago today. Consequently, there is little or no evidence of additional plots foiled, arrests made or lives saved as a result of these massive data mining and surveillance programs.
In its report, the ACLU warns that it is “not too late to strengthen our laws, to take back our data, and to ensure that government surveillance is conducted under effective and reasonable constraints, subject to meaningful oversight.” But the ACLU reminds us that, “we have to speak up now, before our surveillance society is irrevocably entrenched and we find that we have permanently sacrificed our essential values.” Echoing Feingold's worse fears, the ACLU warned that, “we risk changing our national character and surrendering one of the key freedoms we strive to protect – our right to privacy and our ability to speak, dissent, exchange ideas, and engage in political activity without the chilling fear of unwarranted government intrusion.”.
Bearing the awkward name, Uniting and Strengthening America by Providing Appropriate Tools Required to Intercept and Obstruct Terrorism Act, it passed the US Senate by an overwhelming vote of 96-1, with only Sen. Russ Feingold (D-Wisconsin) in dissent, voicing deep concerns about the impact the new law would have on civil liberties and privacy rights. Ten years later, due to the unprecedented secrecy shrouding anything labeled “anti-terrorism,” we still do not know the full extent of what has been done under the Patriot Act. It legalized the NSA's eavesdropping activities – and authorized more. What made you want to look up unpatriotic? The little we do know about the NSA's post-9/11 spying operations is due to the courage of government whistleblowers who risked their careers – and criminal charges – to expose the fact that the NSA has engaged in unconstitutional and illegal domestic eavesdropping and data mining operations against innocent Americans. Unpatriotic definition at Dictionary.com, a free online dictionary with pronunciation, synonyms and translation.
1-Click ordering is not available for this item. An Unpatriotic Act Aug. 25, 2003 Attorney General John Ashcroft has embarked on a charm offensive on behalf of the USA Patriot Act.
Two members of Congress have been ringing alarm bells about the government's use of Patriot Act authority, urging additional congressional oversight – but to no avail. So let us preserve our heritage of basic rights. Un-patriotic: “I hope terrorists murder thousands of Americans, so this travesty of a nation learns a lesson.”. We cannot fully evaluate these warnings because of secrecy constraints, but internal investigations make clear that the warnings are infused with baseless fearmongering. After viewing product detail pages, look here to find an easy way to navigate back to pages that interest you. And let us fight to maintain that freedom that we call America.”. No. In, «This lucid and well-documented study of the PATRIOT Act and related government initiatives quotes Benjamin Franklin’s argument that ‘They who would give up essential Liberty to purchase a little temporary Safety deserve neither Liberty nor Safety’. There was almost no debate, and few in Congress were given more than a few hours to read the 342-page document. 9/11 Attack on America , Terrorism / By Rich Buhler & Staff / March 17, 2015 March 17, 2015 Unpatriotic Acts in the Aftermath of the Attack on America- Truth! But in the name of fighting terrorism, Congress has weakened Americans' privacy protections. You're listening to a sample of the Audible audio edition. All too often, post-9/11 government surveillance has targeted people for expressing political opinions, protesting government policies or exercising their religious freedom.