Patriot Act is a step in the wrong direction

On the front page of Tuesday’s Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, a story about the USA PATRIOT Act was… On the front page of Tuesday’s Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, a story about the USA PATRIOT Act was squeezed alongside a picture from Iran. It was placed to the side, inconspicuously, which is appropriate, because that’s how it has entered the American landscape – few seem to notice it, and fewer seem to care.

The bill, an acronym that stands for “Uniting and Strengthening America by Providing Appropriate Tools Required to Intercept and Obstruct Terrorism,” was approved by a special three-judge panel on Monday. It eases the process for the government to tap into the phone conversations and read the e-mails of any person merely suspected of being a terrorist.

Attorney General John Ashcroft said the decision was “a victory for liberty, safety and the security of the American people,” and it “revolutionizes our ability to investigate terrorists and prosecute terrorist acts.”

Ashcroft’s statements make a clear oversight. The bill does not revolutionize the government’s ability to investigate terrorists, it revolutionizes the ability to seek out suspected terrorists. A small distinction, but an important one.

One would not have to look much farther than backyard fences and Web site security warnings to know that Americans are concerned about privacy. It is a consideration that is made in regard to many simple, everyday decisions, and yet few are up in arms when the government is granted the right to spy on its citizens.

This bill was introduced shortly after the Sept. 11, 2001, terrorist attacks, and has gained momentum from the fear of future tragedy. People are willing to grant the government certain liberties to keep them safe, but they aren’t taking time to ponder the ramifications of those liberties. The bill has allowed the government to get its foot in the door – almost literally – to the Americans’ homes.

The USA PATRIOT Act – a name that may as well brand dissenters as terrorists – gives the government more power than it can safely wield. No matter how colorful its title may be, its imposing nature is distinctly un-American, and it reeks of some of the country’s darkest hours. It will to put many innocents under the microscope – especially those of Middle Eastern descent.

If not infuriated by this bill, you should at least be bothered by it and acknowledge the problems the government will bring when it comes into your house.