NationStates Jolt Archive

Do not make the Act permanent. Include a sunset provision in the Act which requires that it expire at some regularly scheduled interval, say every year, unless renewed by Congress. What do you think?

I think all our moronic reps that voted for it without reading it should have cattle prods shoved up their asses.

Goddamn right. Goverments often takes power during times of crisis, but rarely gives it back once the crisis is over and the powers unnecessary. But I wonder why everyone is suddenly outraged by the Patriot act when the goverment has being doing the exact same thing under the guise of a "War on Drugs" for decades.

Goddamn right. Goverments often takes power during times of crisis, but rarely gives it back once the crisis is over and the powers unnecessary. But I wonder why everyone is suddenly outraged by the Patriot act when the goverment has being doing the exact same thing under the guise of a "War on Drugs" for decades.
Because they aren't being kept blissfully ignorant this time around. Instead, the government is sticking it to them.

I think all our moronic reps that voted for it without reading it should have cattle prods shoved up their asses.

Well, Bitchkitten, I'm not sure if cattle prods are the correct answer. What we need to do is impeach them all and vote for representatives that care... America needs a legislative body like Parliament.

Well, Bitchkitten, I'm not sure if cattle prods are the correct answer. What we need to do is impeach them all and vote for representatives that care... America needs a legislative body like Parliament.

Unless someone arranges a contract hit on Jack Abramoff, quite a few are going to get torpedoed soon.

So it can be resurrected as politically necessary?

Goddamn right. Goverments often takes power during times of crisis, but rarely gives it back once the crisis is over and the powers unnecessary. But I wonder why everyone is suddenly outraged by the Patriot act when the goverment has being doing the exact same thing under the guise of a "War on Drugs" for decades.

War on Poverty, War on Drugs, War on Illiteracy, War on Terror.

If the country doesn't scream "FUCK NO" at the next President who declares war on a noun, we deserve to have our necks barcoded.

So it can be resurrected as politically necessary?
Until such time as the Supreme Court rules it unconstitutional, Congress can continue enacting it as long as they choose.

War on Poverty, War on Drugs, War on Illiteracy, War on Terror.

If the country doesn't scream "FUCK NO" at the next President who declares war on a noun, we deserve to have our necks barcoded.




I hear that.

Do not make the Act permanent. Include a sunset provision in the Act which requires that it expire at some regularly scheduled interval, say every year, unless renewed by Congress. What do you think?
every year is too short. every year taxpayes money would be used to argue this. Perhaps 2 yrs or 3 at the most. but yes, it and all provisions should be temperary, not permanent.

If they want any part of it permanent, then it should be removed from the Act and it then goes through the normal processes.

If the country doesn't scream "FUCK NO" at the next President who declares war on a noun, we deserve to have our necks barcoded.

I hear the dictionary is scrambling to get rid of its Words of Mass Destruction before the US invades.

Do not make the Act permanent. Include a sunset provision in the Act which requires that it expire at some regularly scheduled interval, say every year, unless renewed by Congress. What do you think?

I am still waiting for anyone to actually give a good reason to implement it at all. A simple justification would do. Because it sure as hell is useless to fight terrorism... and terrorism itself is a relatively small threat...

every year is too short. every year taxpayes money would be used to argue this. Perhaps 2 yrs or 3 at the most. but yes, it and all provisions should be temperary, not permanent.

If they want any part of it permanent, then it should be removed from the Act and it then goes through the normal processes.
Good points. Thanks.

I am still waiting for anyone to actually give a good reason to implement it at all. A simple justification would do. Because it sure as hell is useless to fight terrorism... and terrorism itself is a relatively small threat...
Perhaps you should ask some of the Congressmen who voted for it, yes?

Perhaps you should ask some of the Congressmen who voted for it, yes?

The fuck would they know?

The fuck would they know?
Huh? Um ... perhaps it was, like ... an important piece of legislation and they chose to vote for it? Ya think??? :p

Perhaps you should ask some of the Congressmen who voted for it, yes?

A rather clever way of implying the voting was lengthy and well-thought out. Nevermind that 9-11 just happened and nobody in Congress wanted to look like they were soft on terrorism by voting against it.

A rather clever way of implying the voting was lengthy and well-thought out. Nevermind that 9-11 just happened and nobody in Congress wanted to look like they were soft on terrorism by voting against it.

There was one exception though, wasn't there?

Perhaps you should ask some of the Congressmen who voted for it, yes?

I regularly send letters to my congressmen asking questions and telling them what I, as their constituent, think about upcoming legislation. All I ever get in return is a form letter with both my first and last name spelled incorrectly.

And I'm sure that happens to everyone regardless of their particular politics. Constituent-Congressperson communication is lacking.

A rather clever way of implying the voting was lengthy and well-thought out. Nevermind that 9-11 just happened and nobody in Congress wanted to look like they were soft on terrorism by voting against it.
what about the extension they gave it... that passed and the patriot act is still in effect till Feb I believe.

what about the extension they gave it... that passed and the patriot act is still in effect till Feb I believe.

Even with a Republican Majority, one month was the compromise extension they could come up with between Permanent as Bush wanted and 6 weeks as the Democrats and some of the more sensible Republicans wanted.

Huh? Um ... perhaps it was, like ... an important piece of legislation and they chose to vote for it? Ya think??? :p
This was not an important piece of legislation. It was a combination of a political dog and pony show so Bush could show how forward he was leaning in response to 9/11, and an already existing piece of dreck the neocons had drafted years ago -- one of their wet dreams. The Patriot Act is just a pastiche of already existing laws pulled together under one title with a couple of major civil rights violations tucked in amongst them. Did you ever wonder how they managed to have this several hundred page document all written and ready to distribute to the Congress at 7pm on the Friday after 9/11? The Patriot Act is bullshit, and the people who promulgated it (Cheney) are vultures exploiting terrorism and its victims.

How's that for a rant? :D