FBI Pushing Patriot Act Powers - As the Patriot Act comes up for renewal, lawmakers react to a Washington Post report of the FBI's use -- and possible abuse -- of the law to gain access to private phone and financial records of ordinary citizens. [Security Blanket]

The Patriot Act has gotten out of hand. I am a person that stands by the rights to observe your computer actions for marketing reasons – even stand by the idea of spywear to a certain extent. But the idea that the US government wants to monitor not only what internet sites I view, but what books I check out from the library, my financial records from the bank, who I talk to on the phone, who I instant message and even what I say…it’s just too much.

According to a recent article in Wired Online, the Federal Bureau of Investigations attempts to regulate the searching of personal information by requiring “national security letters.” These letters are designed in a similar idea to a warrant for a police investigation. If the FBI is interested in tracking a suspects’ every move, they must first have a national security letter issued for that person. It basically outlines what will be observed and what they are being observed for. The idea behind these letters is good: you can allow investigations for suspected terrorists’, bombers, white house invaders, etc, but only under a complete checks and balances system.

However, there is a glitch. Since the attacks on the World Trade Center on September 11, 2001 the number of letters issued has increased 100 fold – they issue over 300,000 letters each year! This means two things, one, that the person responsible for issuing the letters is trigger-happy and lets nearly every request to investigate get a letter, and two, the Department of Homeland security is investigating a lot more people than just the terrorists out there. Probably, people who are completely innocent are having every move, purchase, read, comment and idea noted, tracked, and analyzed by big brother. This means that likely, I am going to have a national security letter made to investigate me after writing this blog!

Thankfully, there is some suspicion resounding in government. Republicans and democrats alike are beginning to question to effects of the Patriot Acts on our society as an entity governed by the ideas of freedom and independence set forth in the Constitution. Senator Chuck Hagel, a Republican from Nebraska implied that “the government’s expanded power highlights the risks of balancing national security against individual rights.” Similarly, Senator Joseph Bidden, a Democrat from Delaware said that, “We should be looking at that very closely. It appears to me that this is, if not abused, being close to abused."

I agree completely that we, as citizens should keep a careful eye on the movements within the Federal Bureau of Investigations. We are responsible to follow the news and the legislative votes. We are the ones who cannot let our government take steps against the will of its citizens. Join the fight against the invasion of privacy and unnecessary monitoring of innocent people. There are other, more effective ways to combat terrorism within the United States than through the Patriot Acts.

*****Please note that I am role playing. In the possibility that someone outside of this class views this blog, PLEASE realize that these are not my personal beliefs*****