FR Poll Thread: "The Patriot Act Should be..."

Free Republic ^ | 6-13-2005 | DTogo

[DTogo]

As recently suggested, here's a thread to allow FReepers to post (if they want to) how they voted on this poll, why, etc. Let's keep it civil! :)

[DTogo]

I voted "Expanded" as I'd personally like to see it encompass organizations that can demonstrably be proven as engaging in seditious and/or harmful behaviour to the country. Freedom of the press and speech is one thing, but if it fans the flames of our enemies and/or results in harm to our troops or civilians, some form of penalty should ensue. Like yelling "FIRE!" in a crowded theatre. IMHO

[Red Badger]

Made part of the Constitution, along with:

The Bill of Rights applies ONLY to U.S. citizens and legal resident aliens.

[loborojo]

Permanent. If you are not doing anything wrong, then you have nothing to worry about.

[handy old one]

The biggest problem is who the government see as a problem.

[Huck]

I voted pull back, because probably anything the gubmint does ought to be pulled back. Unless they start a big initiative to pull things back. I'd probably say they should expand that one, but then again, you never know.

[SMARTY]

Ditto

[coloradan]

Fighting words are already illegal. What sorts of additional restrictions on free speech do you think would help prosecute the war on terrorism?

[processing please hold]

Freedom of the press and speech is one thing, but if it fans the flames of our enemies and/or results in harm to our troops or civilians, some form of penalty should ensue.

I agree. They can't use the freedom of speech as a Trojan horse to whip up anti-American feelings.

[kenth]

It all depends on what the government decides is "wrong".

[DCPatriot]

Just remember that a Democratic Administration (Hillary) can use the Partiot Act to target...uh, Freepers.

[Dan from Michigan]

I voted to eliminate it.

If we have to live in a police state, the terrorists win.

[loborojo]

As long as they leave beer out of it, I am ok with making it permanent.

[Dan from Michigan]

If you are not doing anything wrong, then you have nothing to worry about.

BS.

[reagandemocrat]

I agree with Huck. Pull back.

[Age of Reason]

Permanent. If you are not doing anything wrong, then you have nothing to worry about.

. . . said George III to the 13 Colonies.

[Dan from Michigan]

If you are not doing anything wrong, then you have nothing to worry about.

Waco, Ruby Ridge, Billy Dale(railroaded by Klintons), Bull Connor, King George III and Lord North.

Government isn't trustworthy enough with that power.

[Age of Reason]

I got an idea better than the patriot act.

How about we stay out of foreign entanglements?

[colorcountry]

Yeah, I voted expanded too, which to me meant extended also. I still want it to be temporary (as the need for resticted freedoms is necessary in time of war).

I felt somewhat limited on my choice. I would have preferred to vote extended/expanded.

[phoenix_004]

Permanent...Threat of islamic terrorism is real and here to stay!!!! We have no option but to defend america and in doing so if we have to forgo some rights then so be it.

[processing please hold]

I voted to eliminate it.

I'm leaning in that direction myself. I just haven't decided 100% yet.

[loborojo]

I voted permanent. I would be willing to vote expanded/extended in times of war. I just think that W.O.T. is here to stay.

[Lazamataz]

Permanent. If you are not doing anything wrong, then you have nothing to worry about.

I absolutely despise this line of reasoning.

With it, I can say: "If you are not doing anything wrong, then you shouldn't worry about warrantless searches."

With it, I can say: "If you are not doing anything wrong, then you shouldn't worry 24/7 automated surveillance."

With it, I can say: "If you are not doing anything wrong, then you shouldn't worry about financial privacy."

Your take on it is the antithesis of what this country should -- and used to -- stand for.

[CSM]

I voted to pull back. If we can't profile passengers on an airplane, then why should our citizens sacrifice any rights.

[Lazamataz]

I just think that W.O.T. is here to stay.

Exactly. And we have a rollback of our rights just temporarily, while this permanent war is carried out.

It's a police-state politician's wet dream.

[Lazamataz]

We have no option but to defend america and in doing so if we have to forgo some rights then so be it.

Utterly amazing.

Hitler would have loved a few million with your opinion.

Come to think of it, he did.

[PaRebel]

A perfect recipe for tyranny. If FR is a good sampling of freedom loving people in the US, then our liberties are truly in joepardy.

[Dan from Michigan]

How is the patriot act defending us against Islamic terrorism.

Especially when our borders are not guarded.

[billbears]

What? Actually follow the words of Washington instead of what passes for foreign policy now? I voted dump it. The patriot act is a slap in the face to anything the Framers would have intended

[GOP_1900AD]

I also voted expanded. In addition to what DTogo wrote, I'd like to see something like:

---

We assist businesses in the USA, and allied nations, in proactively reengineering foreign operations and supply chain designs in order to avoid:

* Providing aid and comfort to the enemies of the USA and allies;

* Becoming dependent on markets and sources in nations that demonstrate a high likelihood of future anti-Allied aggression;

* Negative public relations owing to association with anti-Allied military aggression; and

* Interruptions in continuity of supply and operations due to embargos, seizures of facilities and assets by hostile entities, war between great powers, treason indictments and investigations affecting corporate officers and management, and any other disruptions of a geopolitical nature.

[loborojo]

I thought this thread was to post your reason for voting one way or another, not slamming people for voting a certain way.

[FreeAtlanta]

It was poorly named and as a result, became a target for American hating and fearing leftists. It should have just been called, "The anti-Terrorism Act".

[Lazamataz]

I'm glad to see that there are still a few Freepers who are unwilling to let a Reichstag fire spook them into endorsing an overturning of the 1919 Weirmeir Republic Constitution.

[mysterio]

There's no footnote after the Bill of Rights that says "unless you want to catch a terrorist or a drug user."

I say repeal it.

[Lazamataz]

I thought this thread was to post your reason for voting one way or another, not slamming people for voting a certain way.

The thread is intended for discussion of the issue.

Your comments pertain to the issue, I am making my observations about those.

I note you don't defend your comments. That is wise.

[mysterio]

So perhaps you would support putting video cameras in everyones' homes and cars? I mean, if you aren't doing anything wrong, what's the problem?

[mommadooo3]

I voted to drop it.

If the politicians/law enforcers would DO THEIR JOBS, it would cut back on quite a FEW terrorist minded cretins. The Patriot Act is going to be a VERY dangerous weapon in the hands of demoncraps.

[Hi Heels]

There's a book you would enjoy called "This Perfect Day". In it the populace were "innoculated" against diseases and during the "innoculation" process, were also prevented from having children, growing facial hair, having birth defects, acquiring any unusual or unique characteristics, thinking outside the box, needing freedom, nurturing creativity, experiencing weather changes, etc. It kind of follows this line of thinking. I think it's by Ira Levin....

[Lazamataz]

The Patriot Act is going to be a VERY dangerous weapon in the hands of demoncraps.

I don't think the Republic will survive it.

[rattrap]

I voted drop it, it's anti-American. Giving up rights is a slippery slope that no American, who truly understands what this country was built on, should want to go down.

[Dan from Michigan]

Everyone here who voted for extend it, expand it, or make it permanent need to ask themselves two things.

Do you trust John Kerry, Bill Klinton(who pushed for his own Patriot Act over the drug war), Janet Reno, Ted Kennedy, Dianne Feinstein, Charles Schumer, or Jimmy Carter with this power?

Do you trust mid level bureaucrats with this power?

[PaRebel]

The Republic didn't survive F. Roosevelt!

[stompk]

I voted to end it.

They that can give up essential liberty to obtain a little temporary safety deserve neither liberty nor safety. ---Benjamin Franklin

[kidd]

I voted "cut-back". I understand that we are at war, but it has not been explained to me what has been prevented in exchange for the loss of liberty that is associated with the Patriot Act.

I can understand (but don't agree with) the "Extended" or "Expanded" vote, these people trust the govmt more than I and probably want the borders closed.

I cannot understand why anyone would want a wartime act made "Permanent".

[AnnaZ]

I hit "Pass" on this poll. I would have chosen "Reviewed".

[Lazamataz]

The Republic didn't survive F. Roosevelt!

We still had the vestiges of the BoR, but it appears those, too, are going away.

Surprisingly, with a lot of American's blessings.

[processing please hold]

I am reading all these responses in an effort to help me decide how I want to cast my vote.

It seems to me, the Partiot act would curtail American rights. I've had enough of my rights taken away as it is.

If our National security was so important to our government...why didn't they close down our borders on 9-11?

[reagandemocrat]

Re: your tagline---

See Zell Miller...

[crispy78]

I'm torn b/t renewing it as is or reducing some of the items. I'm all for keeping America safe, but not at the cost of limiting our freedoms. And like someone mentioned above, I'm worried about what HRC would do as president.

[april15Bendovr]

I wonder how many selfish people wouldn't mind changing their opinion on having the patriot act implemented if it were to save them on 9/11/01 standing on the top floors of the WTC as the planes hit and they had to decide to jump off the building hitting the pavement at 200 MPH?

[zerosix]

Me too!