RE: U.S. Senate Blocks Patriot Act Renewal

["Henderson, Dennis K." <Dennis.Henderson () umb com>]

> -----Original Message-----
> From: Valdis.Kletnieks () vt edu [mailto:Valdis.Kletnieks () vt edu] 
> Sent: Friday, December 16, 2005 3:38 PM
> To: Henderson, Dennis K.
> Cc: funsec () linuxbox org
> Subject: Re: [funsec] U.S. Senate Blocks Patriot Act Renewal 
>
> On Fri, 16 Dec 2005 14:57:23 CST, "Henderson, Dennis K." said:
>
> > I guess I'm just a conservative sheep, but I don't see the 
> patriot act 
> > as terribly intrusive on my rights as an American citizen.  If the 
> > ALCU wants to create and protect the rights of terrorists, 
> why don't 
> > they just say so..
>
> You're obviously too young to remember the FBI conducting 
> totally illegal spying on Martin Luther King Jr. and other 
> people on the president's "enemies list".


Yes I am(too young)...  Was learning to piss in something else than diapers then, but I digress...


I'm not sure that a "presidential enemies list" falls under the same classification as an axis of evil or terror. As 
with anything that gives power, responsibility to use that power correctly is one of the biggest tests of morality for 
a human being.  Yes, I'm also naïve in thinking that my government will also use that power wisely and properly, but I 
guess I'm looking a little further down the road than some. Would I rather the government know a little about me so 
they can solve a terrorist plot that might kill me(or you) later?   Hard question to answer...


> If you were a *true* conservative, you'd be asking why the 
> government needs the ability to go into essentially *any* 
> place of business (including your bank, the library, and 
> anyplace else that you've exchanged money or ID with), and 
> look at your records, with the following:

You're right. A true conservative would want less government involvement, not more, but I would try to say with a 
straight face that the patriot act comes closer to a federal constitutional responsibility than say, Social Security or 
the ATF,or even the EPA; some organizations that I really feel intrude on my life. 

As one that has had a security clearance, most of my life, I guess I'm just numb to what bothers you. The feds already 
know my life story and I've gotten over that intrusion....   Everytime I renew my federal fireworks license, the feds 
get to know me better too... 

So  BAA AA AA AA....  :)

> 1) No judicial oversight. Subpoenas? Warrants? Who needs those?
> 2) No need to indicate that any wrongdoing at all is 
> suspected. Fishing expeditions hoping to find dirt are totally OK.
> 3) It's a felony for the person presented with the request to 
> admit that the request was ever made.
>
> So - since you obviously don't mind that, care to post 
> *everything* you've ever checked out of a library? Including 
> anything that might land you on some "enemy of the state" 
> list?  Ever read any Ayn Rand?  And so on...

I knew my comment would draw out some tin foil.. I now have enough to last me well into 2006.

Have a happy Rama-Hannua-Quanz-mas....



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