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Originally Posted by nguirado
I know that you're not from the US, but this is very ignorant. Can you tell me one aspect of the Patriot act that has impacted American freedom? What do you think will impact more Americans' freedom: state health insurance and other regulations or the Patriot act? I think religious groups have impacted media since about 1776. Freedom isn't just looking at dirty pictures.
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The patriot act is basically against all the ideals that created the U.S.A.
It gave the government full and complete power to spy on any and all citizens without court approval.
Let's start here from wikipedia:
The Act dramatically reduced restrictions on law enforcement agencies' ability to search telephone, e-mail communications, medical, financial, and other records; eased restrictions on foreign intelligence gathering within the United States; expanded the Secretary of the Treasury’s authority to regulate financial transactions, particularly those involving foreign individuals and entities; and broadened the discretion of law enforcement and immigration authorities in detaining and deporting immigrants suspected of terrorism-related acts. The act also expanded the definition of terrorism to include domestic terrorism, thus enlarging the number of activities to which the USA PATRIOT Act’s expanded law enforcement powers can be applied.
The Act was passed by wide margins in both houses of Congress and was supported by members of both the Republican and Democratic parties.
Opponents of the law have criticized its authorization of indefinite detentions of immigrants; searches through which law enforcement officers search a home or business without the owner’s or the occupant’s permission or knowledge; the expanded use of National Security Letters, which allows the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) to search telephone, e-mail, and financial records without a court order; and the expanded access of law enforcement agencies to business records, including library and financial records. Since its passage, several legal challenges have been brought against the act, and Federal courts have ruled that a number of provisions are unconstitutional.
The Patriot Act is the biggest atrocity that has been foisted on the American people since we've been a people. This thread though is not the place. Please start a thread in the Politics and Religion forum if you'd like to discuss it.