If you recall, we were told that the so-called Patriot Act would only be used against "terrorists". That was a lie:
If no legislation is passed, the Patriot Act provisions would expire. That would affect not only the NSA surveillance but other programs used by the FBI to investigate domestic crimes, which puts considerable pressure on lawmakers to pass some sort of extension.
http://hosted.ap.org/dynamic/stories/U/US_NSA_SURVEILLANCE?SITE=AP&SECTION=HOME&TEMPLATE=DEFAULT&CTIME=2015-04-25-13-38-12
Really?
We don't need no stinking extension. Let's go back to the constitutionally sound methods which were used before 9/11.
We don't need all this spying crap. The FBI instigates most of the "terror plots" anyway, and they can do that without Patriot Act powers. Besides, such powers did nothing to stop the Tsarnaev brothers, even though the FBI had them on a "watch list" which no one was watching.
I remember the Patriot Act, signed in by President G.W. Bush in 2001. Our family of Mum, Dad and four kids aged 16-10 had emigrated from Ireland after being granted Permanent Resident status. We were skilled, well educated, passed all the medicals including blood tests, background checks and interview before arriving in Arizona. We both got decent jobs, kids liked their schools and we bought a house, going for the 'American Dream.' Once the Patriot Act came in, as immigrants it was questioned as to whether we could continue to use the public library. This was just the first of some strange exhibitions of paranoia directed toward immigrants. Our eldest child was served a notice of registration for the draft; Charlie Rangel's proposed Draft Bill was at the Committee Stage I believe. (Later killed off) We upped and moved to Canada after being granted work permits and are now happy Canadian Citizens. The USA should remember who its friends are and if you guys are going to draft kids at least let the parents vote.
ReplyDeleteSadly, the US is on the verge of entering its death throes. Do not expect us to do anything compassionate or wise for the remainder of our existence.
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