Patriot Act-Today’s Tool for Today’s Problem
You can not fight today’s problems with yesterday’s tools. That is what the detractors of the Patriot Act would like to impose on law enforcement and intelligence gathering agencies. Need I point out that there have not been any successful terrorist acts in the U.S. since 9/11/01? It is not because Islamo-fascists are not trying.
Part of the reason for our success is that the legislators fashioned the Patriot Act, which is a modern tool to deal with the immediacy of the Islamo-fascist threat. So, it makes no sense to now handcuff the very agencies charged with ensuring that no more acts occur in the U.S. The absence of recent terrorist acts on the home-front is not a sign that the threat has diminished.
What exactly is the concern of the Patriot Act detractors? In a nut shell, it is a deep fear of government intrusion into private lives. And, a fear, as such, is justified, but certainly not a “deep” fear. The reason that law enforcement powers are feared is because law enforcement is made up of individuals. And, individuals are flawed and there have been serious violations in the past. Is it likely that there will be violations in the future? Yes, but not many. And, there is certainly not enough to jeopardize the basic freedoms of America.
Why is that so? Well, it is quite simple. Law enforcement is so understaffed, be it local, state or federal, that they do not have time to address a good portion of the criminal and national security threats, much less start targeting innocent citizens. And truly, do you care if a criminal or terrorist is targeted? You should! You should be screaming that more be targeted. Much more!
Let’s be honest folks. Mistakes will always occur. But, mistakes are just that, mistakes. It is not a personal animus toward lawful citizens. It is right to demand accountability, but don’t go overboard and handcuff your employees. That is called cutting off your nose to spite your face.
Read here the latest developments on the Patriot Act.
Update: 11/16/05
The Canadians are increasing their surveillance capabilities. Read it here.
Part of the reason for our success is that the legislators fashioned the Patriot Act, which is a modern tool to deal with the immediacy of the Islamo-fascist threat. So, it makes no sense to now handcuff the very agencies charged with ensuring that no more acts occur in the U.S. The absence of recent terrorist acts on the home-front is not a sign that the threat has diminished.
What exactly is the concern of the Patriot Act detractors? In a nut shell, it is a deep fear of government intrusion into private lives. And, a fear, as such, is justified, but certainly not a “deep” fear. The reason that law enforcement powers are feared is because law enforcement is made up of individuals. And, individuals are flawed and there have been serious violations in the past. Is it likely that there will be violations in the future? Yes, but not many. And, there is certainly not enough to jeopardize the basic freedoms of America.
Why is that so? Well, it is quite simple. Law enforcement is so understaffed, be it local, state or federal, that they do not have time to address a good portion of the criminal and national security threats, much less start targeting innocent citizens. And truly, do you care if a criminal or terrorist is targeted? You should! You should be screaming that more be targeted. Much more!
Let’s be honest folks. Mistakes will always occur. But, mistakes are just that, mistakes. It is not a personal animus toward lawful citizens. It is right to demand accountability, but don’t go overboard and handcuff your employees. That is called cutting off your nose to spite your face.
Read here the latest developments on the Patriot Act.
Update: 11/16/05
The Canadians are increasing their surveillance capabilities. Read it here.
posted by Paul Coambs | 6:04 PM
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