National Security v. Civil Liberties (Raby)

Patriot Act

Patriot Act

by Cortney Brooks -
Number of replies: 10

The USA Patriot Act and other actions that expanded the powers of the executive branch in matters of national security are necessary to protect the citizens of the United States from foreign and domestic threats. I have nothing to hide from the government and if you follow the law you shouldn’t be afraid either. They aren’t storming your houses or causing an inconvenience to your life, they’re collecting data on you, for the greater good. Times have changed and the government needs to be more invasive in order to prevent terrorist attacks on America. I’d rather the government be safe and sift through phone records and data mine than be sorry and have a devastating terrorist attack kill innocent American citizens. If you have nothing to hide, then you shouldn’t be afraid.

In reply to Cortney Brooks

Re: Patriot Act

by Jennifer Spino -
I completely agree with what you said, it is better to be safe than sorry, and why people are afraid of this is still unclear to me, the government doesn't care about you unnless you have done something wrong.
In reply to Cortney Brooks

Re: Patriot Act

by Daniel LawrenceWeak -
As Jenny Said "It is better be safe than sorry" I completely agree. If they were storming our houses and prosicuting us on the basis of something other than terrorism that would be wrong. I have nothing to hide so go ahead and look at my life
In reply to Cortney Brooks

Re: Patriot Act

by Cindy Raby -
At what point will we stop the government from invading our privacy?  Just because I am going nothing wrong, doesn't mean I want people to accuse me.  Think how you feel would feel if your locker is searched everyday.  Or if your parents read all your text messages each day, just in case someone bad may be communicating with you.  Is this acceptable?
In reply to Cindy Raby

Re: Patriot Act

by Cortney Brooks -
The government isn't accusing anyone of anything. They're sifting through data looking for possible terrorists connections, if you have nothing to hide you shouldn't be worried.  I wouldn't mind the school searching my locker everyday, its their property and thats one of the freedoms I must give up if I want a free education. Sometimes you have to sacrifice small things for the greater good.
In reply to Cindy Raby

Re: Patriot Act

by Meagan Allen -
I agree with your point, Mrs. Raby. It makes me uncomfortable knowing that the government has the power to spy on everyone, and not have to notify them, or anyone for that matter.
In reply to Cortney Brooks

Re: Patriot Act

by Tonya Vernier -
I disagree. Okay I have nothing to hide at all either, but I'm pretty sure if the US was going to be suspicious of a terrorist attack, they should have many other ways to figure it out then snooping around in our business and violating our right of privacy that were suppose to always have.
In reply to Tonya Vernier

Re: Patriot Act

by Cortney Brooks -
What other ways would they use to find out if someone is a terrorist unless the go through data? Terrorist don't go shouting out that they're terrorists, they blend in like everyone else. With your theory the only way the government would know someone is a terrorist is after the attack, after many citizens have been killed.
In reply to Cortney Brooks

Re: Patriot Act

by Christina Eiben -
i agree i think that the governments job is to protect us, and if that means they need to collect data on people they should be able to. we should be offened or upset because they collect data on us when all they are really doing is protecting us.
In reply to Cortney Brooks

Re: Patriot Act

by Meagan Allen -
It's not just about keeping us safe. It's about keeping the power. This government was created on the basis that the people have the power. When we give more power to the government, it is upsetting the balance necessary to keep the government a productive government, a good government. When we give them power, we are risking our ability to keep our freedoms. We have the right to not be searched without justification, and the Patriot Act pretty much contradicts that right. How do we know that in 5, 10, 15 years that more of these rights wont be taken away under the justification that "it's for the greater good of national security" The government has ways of keeping America safe without have to snoop through innocent people's lives. I have nothing to hide, but I don't want government to spy on me without having to give any notification that they are. It's like having a peeping tom.