Patriot Act: Extend, Reform, Expire?

Great Debates
1

Three possible outcomes from latest “security” kerfluffle on Capitol Hill:

  1. In the Senate, Mitch McConnell is trying to push through an unaltered extension, though the current indications are that the votes aren’t there for it. Apparently, he hopes to hold things up until the last minute and count on the boogey-man factor to override rational thought.

  2. In the House, the momentum is behind the USA Freedom Act, which would extend parts of the act while removing some of the more extreme elements of mass snooping.

  3. If nothing at all happens, the main features of the law go away at the end of the month.

My prediction is Outcome #2, with about a 30% chance of Outcome #3 as a result of general Congressional dysfunction.

Addendum: And, in a new wrinkle, much of the mass snooping undertaking under the supposed aegis of the Patriot Act turns out to be illegal even under the “authorization” language (the ruling was on statutory, not constitutional, issues, so the fundamental questions were not touched upon).

2

I think you are very likely right. I think the odds of #3 are probably somewhat lower, maybe 15%, but option 2 seems to be a very popular choice.

3

Let it expire. It was by and large a useless piece of legislation in 2001 and it remains so today.

4

I want it gone. Fear is just not who we are.

5

I don’t think I have to read something called “The USA Freedom Act” to know that I’m against it.

6

We apparently need the “USA Freedom Act” to give an alternative to “The Patriot Act” because without that, you’re just opposing patriotism. But I think freedom is at least equal to patriotism, so it’s okay. Perhaps when we revise the USA Freedom Act, we’ll write the BALD EAGLES AND MOUNTAIN DEW EVERYWHERE BROS, AMERICA FUCK YEAH! Act.

Because we’re all 7 year olds, apparently.

7

I feel freer already!!

8

I vote to let it expire.

9

Why do you hate freedom?

10

Because freedom’s just another word for nothing left to lose.

11

Turns out, that shit’s expensive, and I’m saving up for a PS4.

12

Create a giant pinata shaped in the form of a legislative bill, burn it in effigy, and let kids beat it with sticks until the WMD’s fall out.

Or, more reasonably, toss it into the scrap-bin of historical hysterical horseshit.

13

I will buy you a drink for this post.

14

The only parts that should remain are the parts that reform our security departments so that they can share information. The rest we can live without.

15

Let it all expire.

16

Well, if we are voting and all, I’d say let it expire. I think the most likely outcome, however, is number 2…and everyone knows that number 2 generally smells pretty bad.

17

“Freedom isn’t free; no there’s a hefty fuckin’ fee…”

18

What is the basis for your second line? In my view of numerous public policies - criminal justice, immigration, defense, trade, etc. - I’d say fear appears to play as big a role as just about any other factor. In general, I see considerable disjunct between how many (most?) Americans view American values and the American way of life, and how those Americans actually behave.

Hell, I despised the PA back then - it is even more offensive now. But big data and tech have advanced so far, and far too many folk are profiting from the fear and surveillance economies to effectively dial it back. That is a big problem with increasing someone’s power. When the successor gets in, they realize how useful it is to have the power they previoulsy criticized.

I predict some similarly lengthy and opaque legislation will be passed, ostensibly establishing procedures to address specific portions of the PA. In time, that legislation will be found to have caused/allowed it’s own issues.

19

The Dysfunction Junction on the Hill keeps leading me to revise my estimated odds, making “expire” increasingly likely.

20

If Congress does let it die, it will be the best thing Congress has done in quite a while.