Trosario- Room for Debate

Though this assignment I have read both sides of the argument for and against the Patriot Act, and have tried to express my ideas on this concept without bias.

The Patriot Act was made to aid the keeping of US citizens safe form terrorist. The Act was created after the incident of Sept. 11. In a high state of fear the bill was passed and made into law with in four days, rather than the many months that is common for passing a bill.

The Patriot Act gives federal offices such as the NSA and FBI authority to track and intercept communication. Such tactics can be used to investigate for law enforcement and foreign intelligence.

While reading the four articles that were assigned I saw a trend building. “Technology has advanced. Defensive technologies have not kept up,” wrote Eric Posner- (There’s still a need).

Also on the side for the Patriot Act was Nathan A. Sales (A vital weapon). He stressed the point that the tools used for the interceptions were similar, if not the same, tools that police officers have used for decades. Sales went on to explain that NSA agents are required to receive permission and a warrant from a Judge.

These are important factors, and necessary in the apprehension of criminals, but when is there a crossing of the morality line?

Jeffrey Rosen’s article ‘Too much power’ caught my eye with one of his quotes. “Reported in 2007 by the Inspector General of the Justice Department. ‘Widespread and serious abused’ of the authority by the FBI under the patriot act”.

But the point that most intrigued me was that of Susan N. Herman (Too many needless provision ‘Section 215’)

Herman’s main argument was that against the Patriot Act. One incident she quotes was that of an NSA agent requesting the records of a civilian’s library checkouts.

How does the library check outs of one civilian show that they may or may not have terroristic plots? Should US citizens now be afraid to do research or write a book report in a free country? Also how is it fair for people unlike anyone else to have more power than others?

NSA agents have the power to simply give one reason to a judge for the investigation of a civilian and their claim can be granted as justified. If all humans are equal then such power should not be given. I am not against foiling terroristic plots, but I believe that is not proactive to give such power and responsibilities to ordinary people who could be our neighbors.