Posted by
David Golden on Tuesday, August 08, 2006 6:37:15 AM
Several conversations with friends and acquaintances turned out similarly. One topic that comes to mind is that of the Patriot Act. Remember when it was passed? Remember when it was due for a re-authorization? There were lots of strong opinions about it on both sides of the issue. Lots of emotional content in the coverage on the news and in brief conversations I heard.
The typical comment from liberal leaning friends and the local librarian was that our civil rights were being trampled. I was asked whether or not I cared about losing our civil rights. I replied with "name the top three civil rights you are most worried about losing".
In the first conversation, Mike hemmed and hawed around and finally came up with something about carrying a knife on airplanes. The librarian was mostly concerned that the FBI or sheriff would be looking at patrons records without a warrant.
When I asked to borrow their copy of the Patriot Act so I could read it myself, they all finally admitted that they had not actually read it for themselves. I did download it and read it for myself. What a boring job that was. Around one thousand pages to skim through, but much of it refers to other laws and makes changes to paragraphs within those laws. So to understand the Act, one would have to also read each of those other laws to know what the changes meant.
I have a hard time believing that the various newscasters on TV read it either. I watched various news programs that covered it but they only gave it 60 or 90 seconds coverage and often resorted to letting other peoples comments be the substance of the story.
So, are you for or against it? Either way, did you read it before forming an opinion? Now ask yourself about other proposed legislation. So many of us form opinions but base them on something other than the facts.