The USA Patriot Act

[Nickmick95]

Some of you may know about it, but is this constitutional?
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Patriot_Act

 

[GregBurch]

Which part? There's a lot in there, and most of it has been on the books for seven years.

 

[Nickmick95]

The whole thing.

 

[Urwumpe]

As long as nobody goes to the supreme court against it, it is constitutional.

It helps the terrorists, but well, that is not my problem.

 

[Nickmick95]

I think it eliminates the 4th Ammendment. And I quote:

Amendment IV


The right of the people to be secure in their persons, houses, papers, and effects, against unreasonable searches and seizures, shall not be violated, and no warrants shall issue, but upon probable cause, supported by oath or affirmation, and particularly describing the place to be searched, and the persons or things to be seized.

 

[Tachyon]

As long as nobody goes to the supreme court

that is for sure ... all they'd have to do is bury you in the system.

Won't matter anyways in a month or so... check out why we have troops on American soil in "combat mode" over the next few months.

 

[Eagle]

IIRC a few parts were ruled unconstitutional by lower courts. But its a big document.

Also it depends to which constitutional law you ascribe to. If you're a (very) strict constructionist most everything the federal government does today is unconstitutional.

 

[GregBurch]

The whole thing.

I'm sorry, the law doesn't work like that. Courts rule on the constitutionality of specific provisions of specific laws in specific cases. You can't point to a complex law and, in the abstract ask "Is it constitutional?"

Alternatively, you could just take that great US constitutional scholar, Urwumpe's word :lol:

 

[Zatnikitelman]

The Patriot Act is one of the most unconstitutional acts ever signed into law. Frankly, every signatory and supporter of the act in the government ought to be tried and convicted of high treason!! And well, you know the punishment for that.

 

[Eagle]

And well, you know the punishment for that.

Healthcare, retirement benefits and a tasty cookie?

 

[Missioncmdr]

Well, it is a really long document. You can read it here:

http://epic.org/privacy/terrorism/hr3162.html

But, I do not have the time to read it right now.

Boy, you really like opening these big can of worms lately, huh? :lol:

 

[Nickmick95]

Boy, you really like opening these big can of worms lately, huh? :lol:

I sure do!:lol:

 

[GregBurch]

The Patriot Act is one of the most unconstitutional acts ever signed into law. Frankly, every signatory and supporter of the act in the government ought to be tried and convicted of high treason!! And well, you know the punishment for that.

What specific portion of the law, in what application, draws such a characterization?

 

[RisingFury]

Well, it is a really long document. You can read it here:

http://epic.org/privacy/terrorism/hr3162.html

Well, that took a minute just to scroll through. Pity the guy who had to write that - especially because nobody reads it

 

[Andy44]

Well, that took a minute just to scroll through. Pity the guy who had to write that - especially because nobody reads it

Most of it was written years before 9/11, and the neocons were just waiting for an excuse to ram it through congress.

And you're right that nobody reads it; almost none of the congressmen who voted for it had time to read it. It was handed to some of them hours before the vote, and for the others they never even saw it. They were told "trust me" and they also were threatened with being called "soft on terrorism" if they didn't vote for it. So like the cowards they are, they voted for it.

Not long after that, some of them tried to change the name of french fries to "freedom fries".

 

[JamesG]

Won't matter anyways in a month or so... check out why we have troops on American soil in "combat mode" over the next few months.

The orders for that have already been cut.

 

[joeybigO]

The orders for that have already been cut.

I'll be nice and just call that opinion trite crap. That has to be the worst most biased article I've ever read on my life. Why can't the patriot act apply to idiots like that?

 

[JamesG]

What exactly are you objecting to?

 

[dougkeenan]

Terrorists hate us for our Orbiter.

 

[n0mad23]

I'll be nice and just call that opinion trite crap. That has to be the worst most biased article I've ever read on my life. Why can't the patriot act apply to idiots like that?

Man, this response is actually embarrassing. Have you actually bothered reading the Patriot Act?

Do you believe in the First Amendment? Can't have it both ways.