Sorry, Im not going to let this one die. I am still incensed by the uncivil liberties the Administration took in passing the Patriot Act II. There is something fundamentally wrong about taking away the right for due process without due process, of taking civil liberties away without civic debate and of being able to subpoena your library records with an act that doesn't show up in your public library.
Mark points to a scathing analysis by the EFF, of last year's bill, but that's last year's bill.
Bless the EFF, because otherwise, as Pierre points out, we only have this so-called "statement" and shrouded text to go on. The act provides a $40 billion spending package and some would like to know what its for. We simply don't have any analysis of this law yet. Wendy?
Patriot Act II has still yet to be covered by the mainstream media (except brief AP mentions in a legislation round-up and on federalization trend), and, for that matter, the alternative media. It is one of the top 10 Moronic Stories of 2003, one of 10 good things and an Upside of 2003, but event the morons and dissidents of the alternative press don't know that despite the public uproar that prevented it from being passed before, they went ahead and made it law. Maybe the Celebs are paying attention. Normally I wouldn't quote these as sources, but I don't have much to go on. Is it simply that now that our rights have been taken away we don't feel like fighting for them?
