How has the USA PATRIOT Act Affected You?

wetdogjp asks: "October 26th, 2004 marked the third anniversary of the Uniting and Strengthening America by Providing Appropriate Tools Required to Intercept and Obstruct Terrorism Act (or USA PATRIOT Act, as it is more commonly known). While the Slashdot crowd can certainly muster the enthusiasm to debate its pro's and con's, I'd like to know: How has the USA PATRIOT Act affected you, personally? How has it interfered with your personal and professional life? Has this act influenced your Presidential vote?"

Not much.

[Wig]

It hasn't really affected me. I do hear some clicking in my phone every time I talk on it, but I think that's just the phoneline.

thank god

[mongolian]

At least I know somebody else is keeping logs of my AIM conversations so I dont have to use the disk space.

Re:Umm

[Scoria]

As Americans, we are responsible for perpetuating our civil liberties. According to your response, we shouldn't exhibit concern for the 0.1% of Americans that have been affected. That complacency would merely encourage the legislators to enact additional laws, and those laws would eventually affect 100% of the American population.

Re:Umm

[UniverseIsADoughnut]

speak for yourself, because of a typo in it i was forced to be turned into a parrot, and others i know too. Not only was the bill not read, it wasn't spell checked either.

Re:Umm

[TheKidWho]

Nope Its only benefited me, how about all of the terrorist cells that have been brought down in the US only because the Patriot Act allowed them to.

Re:Umm

[Rayonic]

> How about it has not effected me one bit. Just like how it has not effected 99.9% of Americans.

On the contrary, it just got you modded down. ;-)

Re:Not much, really.

[End11]

Yes, because after all "rights" and "freedoms" were not designed so you could do things the government doesn't approve of, and the only people who care about them must pretty much be terrorists anyway. What kind of a weirdo doesn't want the government to have unlimited power to go through their shit? The kind with something to hide of course!

Not that much.

[ian rogers]

However, it did make me think, "What if they spent as long finding ways to prevent terrorism as they did finding words to fit into the acronym "USA PATRIOT?"

Bush "Bashing"?

[Shoten]

#!/bin/sh

case $Election_Outcome in
Kerry )
echo "The Patriot Act has had a significant impact on my life. Some of it has been indirect, like the Wiccan friend (who was my friend before she was even Wiccan) in another part of the country who warned me that knowing her might jepoardize my clearance...it already had for some of her other friends. And the only reason why is because of her affiliation with a Wiccan coven. I'd point out that the Supreme Court has ruled that Wicca is a valid religion, and that covens are eligible for tax-exempt status as such." ;;

Bush )
"Ah, the glorious Patriot Act! It has done nothing but brought cheer and happiness to me since it was first conceived. My papers are in order, ja?" ;;

esac

Re:Umm

[mikewren420]

Not like I have anything to hide.

Me neither. Heil Hitler.

Godwin's law... I win! :)

No Problems

[zugcat]

The CENSORED act has not affected ma at all. I work at CENSORED and we have no CENSORED. I have noticed no difference in my life at CENSORED since theCENSORED act came to be. I can even process CENSORED reports and look at all the files in the CENSORED. I do not believe that the act has caused any censorship or CENSORED on the part of CENSORED . Any on who think they are affected adversely onlt need to lodge a complaint with the bureau of CENSORED. You can e-mail them at CENSORED@CENSORED . You can also reach them via the url www.CENSORED.CENSORED Respectfully, CENSORED

(it's one of the reasons) why I am voting for Bush

[ant_tmwx]

he's a self proclaimed war president. who doesn't like war? especially pre-emptive offensive ones, where many innocents & soldiers are dying. but it was a war on the concept of 'terror.' well at least the first country, Afghanistan, was involved. luckily, he kept up an atmosphere of fear & had the country terrified.

USA PATRIOT Act. I had too many Constitutional rights, freedoms, & liberties. I can spare a few, can't you? whatever idiot* said 'Those who would give up essential liberty for temporary safety deserve neither liberty nor safety.' probably had no experience. The ACLU can't even discuss their case against the gov ABOUT the USA PATRIOT Act. no one will deny, thats pretty awesome!

Attorney General Ashcroft. I don't even feel like bringing up legit reasons like covering boobs on statues OF the personification of Justice. (the turn on almost caused me to rape.) crisco, anyone?

I don't like people to express opinions if they are different from my own. even if they do it peacefully & respectfully. of course, I am assuming those in power will always hold the same views as I do. Love America, Hate Bush [bend.com]

* Ben Franklin

Wait...

[Anonymous Coward]

The US has allies?

USA PATRIOT

[Riktov]

It's made me realize that Struggling To Unite Populations In Distress, America's Completely Relying On Nationalistic Yet Moronic Symbolism.

Re:No Problems

[ZorbaTHut]

I tried emailing them at that address, but the email bounced. I don't think they got it. :(

Oh, wait, there's a police car pulling up outside. Maybe they got it after all. I'll let you know how it turns out.

Re:Something not so funny.

[Methuseus]

I think you mean Khitomer Massacre.

Re:Umm

[Anonymous Coward]

Try to think past puberty.. Your children and their children, etc. will grow up here.

And Democracy doesn't mean a damn thing when the population is a bunch of rednecks who run around saying "BAN SODOMY, GAY MARRIAGE, AND BOMB THE FUCK OUT OF IRAQ!"

Re:Umm

[SidV]

First they came for the smokersBR> and I did not speak out--because I was not a smokers.
Then they came for the red meat eaters
and I did not speak out--because I was not a red meat eater.
Then they came for the drinkers
and I did not speak out--because I was not a drinker.
Then they came for me--
and I said "Do whatever you want. I've been eating bean sprouts and drinking Soy milk for three years and I'm ready to jump in front of a Bus."

Re:Umm

[allism]

So, in effect, the PATRIOT Act is creating jobs?

Re:Umm

[Anonymous Coward]

Agent Alice: How's the covert electronic suveillance of Slashnerd 172441 going Agent Bob?

Agent Bob: Mostly just harmless anti-government raving Agent Alice. Chances of this dork ever belonging to any sort of revolutionary or terrorist group are pretty fucking slim I'd say. He'd fucking bore them to tears and they'd take him out and execute him themselves. I mean Jesus Christ he even encrypts his goddamned grocery list. He encrypts his personal journal. Like he needs to. Anyone reading it would stop from sheer boredom after a couple of paragraphs. The only thing that keeps me from shoving my Glock in my mouth and blowing my brains out is the porn. He may be a boring dork but at least he has plenty of stolen pornsite passwords. I run his packets though a filter and it snags out the images and video/audio streams and dumps them to a folder for me to peruse. Saves me from having to go find the stuff on my own.

Agent Alice: Pretty clever there Agent Bob since you're getting paid to monitor the subject rather than surf for porn. I bet you even named the folder 'Evidence' or someting like that didn't you.

Agent Bob: Of course I did.

Agent Alice: *chuckles* Keep up the good wood... er I mean work Agent Bob.

Re:Something not so funny.

[Anonymous Coward]

Alright, well, howabout guys with beards then? If we just watchout for guys with beards, we'll be safe....

Re:Umm

[KillerLoop]

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TYTR32CONFOR M12GNIYIPWG64VOTER4APATHY42JLQ
TYFGB64MONEY3IS4YO UR7GOD62MGTSB21CONFORM34
SDF53MARRY6AND2REPRODUCE 534TYWHJZKJ34OBEY6

Re:Umm

[Zorilla]

No, he tight!

Brooklyn Bridge

[bdowne01]

I recently took a trip to New York and walked across the Brooklyn Bridge. The PATRIOT act kept that bridge from being blown up. I liked that walk.

Re:Brooklyn Bridge

[svallarian]

Just be glad you didn't take a picture of it and be arrested on the other side for "aiding terrorism".

Steven V>

Re:Something not so funny.

[TheRaven64]

Personally, I'd like to see the Brits point out how we've failed to meet our promises in said Declaration, and that means ownership of the country reverts back to them.

On behalf of Britain, I would like to make the following announcement to the people currently inhabiting the former British colonies in North America:

You broke it, you can buy us a new one. Or not. We don't really want one anymore. Colonies are so passé these days. Either way, we don't want it back unless you get it repaired first.

Re:Don't live or work in the States, don't visit..

[torpor]

If it weren't for us, you'd probably be speaking German.


thanks to you, i'm speaking american .. your point?