Petition to Reform the USA Patriot Act

Tell Congress that the Patriot Act should not be made permanent, let alone expanded:

http://action.aclu.org/Petition3

Use the following links to find out more from ACLU and Working Assets and learn how you can get involved:

1. www.ReformthePatriotAct.org
   
2. www.ActForChange.com
   

We greatly appreciate your support.

Where's the one that supports making it permanent, (with appropriate modifications and clarifications which the FBI, Justice Department, and CIA have expressed willingness to accept)?

Paolo, dear....I support this cause to the hilt. But didn't you know that the letters "ACLU" when spoken in sequence makes any conservative Republican break out in hives? I think the Congress would have a better chance of considering the the facts of the issue if it didn't come attached to such a polarizing organization.

I am so for Working Assets, tho. Anyone who feeds me Ben and Jerry's Ice Cream is OK in my book.

LOL - Well, if you find one, go ahead and post it! I, for one, think it does more harm than good.

Yes, I know, I know...But, at least someone is taking the lead on this! I just feel so strongly that the USA is moving in a fascist direction. As a "libertarian," I am a pragmatist: If a liberal civil rights org is willing to take this on, then by God, they have my support!

Signed.

~Ulrika~

I'd agree with you guys if there were examples of clear *abuses* of the act, but there just isn't anything that I'm aware of.

One of the biggest things the act does is allow coordination and communication among law enforcement and intelligence agencies...this is important. Even the ACLU spokesperson I've heard has admitted to plenty of parts of the act being "okay" after certain appropriate clarifications and improvements in the wording are done.

Unfortunately there's more misinformation about the act out there than there is correct information.

http://www.lifeandliberty.gov/subs/u_myths.htm

Signed Paolo!

/s/
Urusula Zapata

This is a reform petition, not an abolition petition.

I have read the Pat act in full and know that although some of the very specific segments which detail the collaboration of government agencies in an effort to fight terrorism are fine the other sections such as title II are far from "okay". The wording actual or potential attacks, and the changing of the term foreign to include citizens of the United States is only one part of the worry. Section 126-129 will allow for an unprecidented errorsion of personal privacy by allowing what were once illegal wiretap and electronic surveillance to now be considered legal and necessary. Credit histories, library records, religious affiliations, political affiliations none will be sacred all will be used to determine a persons threat to the government. Exactly what is the definition of a threat to national security? A threat is whatever they want it to be including picketing and sit ins which have already been outlawed in Charlotte, NC (unless you get a permit).

Pat act the sequel will only further sap personal freedoms by removing any semblance of governmental checks and balances which now protect the freedoms of the citizenry from being overthrown by governmental entities.

Before saying the two Pat acts are dandy, I would suggest reading them in full making certain to read the definitions of the terms as well.

P.S.

I would be about as likely to trust anything written by the Dept. of Justice as I would similar reports from the ACLU. Both organizations have a vested interest in peddling misinformation with regards to the Pat acts.