USA PATRIOT Act - Our Civil Rights vs. FBI Paperwork

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The push is on once again to renew the USA PATRIOT Act. FBI Director Robert S. Mueller III, who took command of that post one week before the 9/11 mass murders, has been pushing Congress hard to encourage them to keep the anti-Constitutional document in place, in tact. Remember, the Justice Department ruled the document was unconstitutional based on the illegal search and seizure elements as well as other civil rights violations.

Mueller told members of the Senate Judiciary Committee he hopes that the reauthorization of two provisions would be far less controversial than in previous years. One of those provisions, which helps authorities secure access to business records, "has been exceptionally helpful in our national security investigations," he said. I imagine our recent heist of $Trillions by businesses would be far greater if his organization hadn't been keeping such a close vigil. He stated in his meeting with the Senate Judiciary Committee the FBI had used the provision 220 times between 2004 and 2007.

The measure allows investigators probing terrorism to seek a suspect's records from third parties such as financial services and travel and telephone companies without notifying the suspect. The American Civil Liberties Union has criticized the provision, saying it violates the First Amendment rights of U.S. Citizens. It appears the provision applies only to individuals, not organizations. I ask, “What group of individuals has done more terrorist harm to our nation than the financial industry, the pharmaceutical industry, the oil industry, the insurance industry, and groups such as AIPAC, the American Enterprise Institute, and other such forces working against our democracy”?

Another provision, permitting roving wiretaps of terrorism suspects, was used 147 times and has helped eliminate "an awful lot of paperwork," Mueller said. So, to make this clear a provision of this civil rights violating document is necessary in order to eliminate paperwork for the FBI. WOW, how little our civil rights means to our elected and selected public officials.

Eric Holder, when interviewed for the job of Attorney General voiced moderate support for renewing the Act when its sunset provisions expire in December.

David Kris, Assistant Attorney General, who worked as Associate Deputy Attorney General for national security issues in 2000 – 2003 released a 23 paged memorandum sharply criticizing George W Bush administration's legal argument that it had authority to conduct warrantless domestic wiretapping due to the Authorization for Use of Military Force Against Terrorists which was passed by Congress in September 2001.

So, with Mueller's strong desire to save paperwork, coupled with the Dick Cheney telling everyone how we are less safe now under Obama, and the foot in the door responses of Eric Holder, we Americans can say our civil rights will continue to be shredded under the “Change” Obama administration.

In reality nothing important has changed nor will it be changed. We must come to grips with the fact our nation has been turned from a democracy, where the people had a voice, to a corporatist, H*ll, let's not play with words, a fascist one has replaced it.