Patriot Act Essay

Submitted By bornacargo1
Words: 1871
Pages: 8
Open Document
Patriot Act There have been numerous critics of the Patriot Act. Many groups like the ACLU, and other privacy and civil liberties advocates, assert that the Act violates too many individual freedoms and liberties, especially those regarding privacy. They argue that the Act makes it too easy for law enforcement officials to collect personal information and monitor organizations and individuals, especially American citizens, under the auspices of terrorism-related investigation. Specifically among these critics are Atwood, Kinzer and Kolin.
Kolin contends that “the Patriot Act’s…provisions, in many ways are meant to replace the Constitution” (Kolin, chapter 5, p.144). Indeed, this act allows excessive monitoring of Americans who may or may not know they are being watched. The Act allows the Government to monitor records of Internet use, utilize roving phone taps, and monitor private records of individual participants of legal, legitimate protests. Accordingly, this is indeed a breach of the First and Fourteenth Amendments, as Americans are losing rights to privacy and rights to free speech.
It is argued that the Act minimizes the system of checks and balances between the legislative, judicial, and executive branches of government, by giving too much power to the executive branch. The executive branch has increased authority when search and surveillance powers are given to domestic and foreign law enforcement agencies. Surely, this whole act appears to be some ploy to consolidate power, not only in other countries but also here in America. Some critics do not believe that the war on terrorism is about protecting civil liberties, as it is about infiltrating new markets under the pretense of benevolence. Kinzer speaks to this point when he asserts that “for more than a century, Americans have believed that they deserve access to markets and resources in other countries…[and] Americans… persuade themselves that they are acting out humanitarian motives” (Kinzer, chapter 14, p. 316). It appears that as long as Americans believe that they are on the side of righteousness the horrors they dispense upon the world will have no end. Certainly this was the case during the Iraq War in 2001. Though “no evidence whatsoever indicated that Saddam Hussein had been involved in the [9/11] attacks… [America] immediately called for action against Iraq” (Atwood, chapter 11, p. 222). In effect, no matter how trumped up the charges were the American public sheepishly followed suit and concluded that their leaders were doing what was right.
Despite the fact that the Patriot Act is too large and complex, and that it was constructed in a rush shortly after the September 11th attacks in 2001, the goal then was to put legislation into place quickly in order to help ensure the prevention of additional terrorist attacks. However, since then numerous U.S. communities have debated in town hall and city council meetings as to whether or not the Patriot Act violates civil liberties. Resolutions stating an opposition to the Patriot Act have been passed in many communities in different states according to the ACLU. Yet in spite of these debates, the Patriot Act is now back in effect and many of the provisions in the ACT apply to all situations, not only those involving terrorist crimes. Now more than ever it seems that America is going the way of becoming a police state, and now citizens have to fight to harder today to save the future of their rights.

About the Author: President George W. Bush signed the USA PATRIOT Act, previously passed by the first session of the 107th United States Congress, into law on October 26, 2001.
INTRODUCTION
The United States Congress established the USA PATRIOT Act (Patriot Act) to improve the capabilities of law enforcement agents to prevent terror attacks, and to more effectively investigate and prosecute terrorists and would be terrorists. USA PATRIOT, is an acronym for, "Uniting and Strengthening America by
Show More

Related Documents: Patriot Act Essay

Patriot Act Dbq

emails. The Patriot Act is a U.S. law that allows the government to stop terrorist attacks. The Patriot Act was enacted on October 26, 2001, just 45 days after the 9/11 terrorist attack. Despite various arguments that the Patriot Act stands to protect American lives, we stand opposed to the Patriot Act because it is an invasion of privacy & is unconstitutional. First of all, I am opposed to the Patriot Act because it is an intrusion on privacy. For example, “The NSA and FBI use the Patriot Act to collect…

Words 618 - Pages 3

USA Patriot Act

USA Patriot Act is an acronym for the official title, “Uniting and Strengthening America by Providing Appropriate Tools Required to Intercept and Obstruct Terrorism.” On October 26, 2001 George W. Bush signed the USA Patriot Act, an act passed in response to the September 11th attack on the Pentagon and World Trade Center. USA Patriot Act bears ten sections and/or titles. The purpose of the USA Patriot Act is to deter and punish terrorist acts in the United States and around the world. The act enhanced…

Words 1783 - Pages 8

The Impact Of The Patriot Act

Information Technology Acts The act that first comes to mind when thinking about the advances in information technology that resulted in ethical issues would be the Patriot Act,2001, renewed 2006. The patriot Act opened so many door in the technology field that legally were not allowed to be opened in the first place. Shortly after 9/11 happened the Patriot Act came into affect and it stripped citizens of their privacy. The act allowed the government to put camera up at every traffic light…

Words 765 - Pages 4

Against The Patriot Act

which killed over 3000 americans on our soil. After that henouis act of violence our goverment has been very through in their searches in public venues with large populations. For example, everytime you go to a professinal sporting event you get censored or everytime you walk into a major government office. But recently we have been getting to the point of them secretly looking into our own personal devices. I am against the Patriot act for it violates the constitution and casues a bigger diversion…

Words 484 - Pages 2

The Importance Of The Patriot Act

as 9/11. The day after this horrific event, the government decided to make a law which was the Patriot Act. This act was meant to protect and save citizens from harm, but this means that the government has the right observe peoples privacy life by going through their personal devices. Now that I have told you background information of this event, the real question is, do you believe in the Patriot Act?…

Words 418 - Pages 2

Patriot Act Dbq

The Patriot Act is an act that was created after the 9/11 terrorists attacks. It was an easier way for the government to spy on normal American citizens. At first its main objective was to use it to catch terrorists, but its intentions changed and it makes innocent people suspects. They use the items we use daily, to spy on us. For example some of these would be phones, internet, email, bank accounts. Anyone can be a victim. The law was ratified by the government under the presidential term of…

Words 1265 - Pages 6

National Patriot Act

September 11th 2001, a day forever scorched into American history. The attacks of September 11th changed the nation both on the homefront and abroad. Just thirteen days after the attacks The USA PATRIOT act was introduced into congress. Thirty-one days later the bill was passed with a 98-1 vote in the House of Representatives. The law, then passed to allow government officials to conduct surveillance on suspects of terrorism and other matters of national defense. However, in 2006 USA Today reported…

Words 966 - Pages 4

The Patriot Act Essay

which was the Patriot Act. The Patriot Act was the first of many changes to surveillance laws that made government more involved in the private lives of others. The act’s goal was to strengthen security and expand the powers of law enforcement bureaus in the act of identifying and stopping terrorists. The Patriot Act was not the only new change to the United States after 9/11; forty-eight bills and resolutions were authorized into law. The Enhanced Border Security and Visa Entry Reform Act were always…

Words 1247 - Pages 5

Essay on Patriot Act

been many events that have threatened our nation’s security that has caused our government to take extreme precautions. During World War II, when the Japanese were a threat, the U.S. passed executive order 9066 and after 9/11 they passed the USA Patriot Act. Both of these actions caused certain groups to be discriminated against and prevented them from having equal rights. Some question whether the loss of civil rights is worth that safety. Due to the fact that the power is often used in excess or…

Words 588 - Pages 3

Pros And Cons Of The Patriot Act

Did you know that the patriot act strengthened and United America by providing the correct tools to stop terrorists? How has the Patriot Act Prevented Or Stopped Terrorists? I believe that the Patriot Act was a excellent thing for America because it helped stop terrorists The Patriot Act was put into place on October 11, 2001. The Patriot Act was created because of the terrorists attacks at the World Trade Center Towers in New York. Terrorists struck America on September 11, 2001 they took four…

Words 522 - Pages 3