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Congress to Revisit the Patriot Act

BlakeCaldwell writes "CNet is reporting that both the House and Senate are planning to review the 16 portions of the Patriot Act that are set to expire at the end of the year, several dealing with computer and Internet surveillance. They're trying to avoid the criticism they received after rushing this bill through in 2001 by holding hearings to review the bill's worth. FTA: 'One hearing disclosed police invoked the Patriot Act 108 times in a 22-month period when surreptitiously entering and searching a home or office without notifying the owner.'"

9 of 512 comments (clear)

  1. Review? by Dutchmaan · · Score: 4, Funny

    "CNet is reporting that both the House and Senate are planning to review the 16 portions of the Patriot Act that are set to expire at the end of the year"

    How can they review something they didn't even read in the first place!?

  2. Hearings will be held... by ackthpt · · Score: 5, Funny

    In a disused lavatory, in the basement, with the sign "Beware the leopard" on the door.

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    A feeling of having made the same mistake before: Deja Foobar
  3. What doesn't expire by Triumph+The+Insult+C · · Score: 5, Funny

    Section 226 -- Makes it unlawful to speak of the PATRIOT Act

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    vodka, straight up, thank you!
  4. This is what they will do: by rice_burners_suck · · Score: 4, Funny

    What they ought to do is get rid of the Patriot Act completely, but hide the exact same language in a bill on, say, the sale of lettuce. Then, they can keep doing all this invasive stuff without people talking about it nonstop.

  5. Re:List of Expiring Provisions: by PopeAlien · · Score: 5, Funny

    Most people don't get past a knee jerk reaction and bother to look at what is really in Patriot beyond the FUD.

    Are you talking about the senators here?

  6. Re:Irregardless by TiggertheMad · · Score: 4, Funny

    Although one might reasonably argue that it is no different from words with redundant affixes like debone and unravel...

    Oh, I'm pretty sure the prefix on 'debone' is needed to differentiate the word from 'bone'. I can 'bone' something...you got a sister so I can demonstrate?

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    HA! I just wasted some of your bandwidth with a frivolous sig!
  7. Won't somebody PLEASE think of the children? by clickster · · Score: 4, Funny

    I mean COME ON!!!! Why are you so pro-terrorist?!!!

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    If you mod me down, I shall become less powerful than you could possibly imagine.
  8. SEP (Slashdot enhancement proposal) by Free_Trial_Thinking · · Score: 4, Funny

    Abstract:
    This article was the last straw for me. I've just been seeing more and more infuriating political articles that I wish I could take action against. So my idea is that for every article on a subject worth protesting, a reader makes a post with a special designated subject line such as "WAYS YOU CAN HELP". Then he/she lists the various ways you can take action to actually protest the thing. I propose we order the ways of taking action by how much you have to care about the issue to take the action. I have an example for this article at the end of this post.

    Proposed Solution:
    The basics are presented in the abstract, but some more details are that people comment on this post and reccomend additions, and corrections. Finally when everyone has had their say, someone compiles the official "take action" document and posts it on a permanment webpage as the start of a wiki for the issue.

    Example for this article:

    Subject line: "WAYS YOU CAN HELP"
    Comment:
    How you can help based on how much you care:
    1. The fate of the world depends on fixing this:
    Start a website and non-profit devoted to fixing this issue. Collect donations and hire lobbyists to buy a fix.
    2. I worry about this issue all day!
    Option A. Pay a visit to the relevant lawmaker.
    Option B. Plan a protest.
    Option C. Start a petition (but make sure it's the kind that matters)
    3. This is a big problem:
    Call the relevant lawmaker, explain your concerns.
    4. This is a medium problem:
    Write a handwritten letter to your lawmaker (email s and faxes don't work!)
    5. This is a minor problem:
    Donate money
    6. I think I care but I don't really:
    Complain about it on Slashdot and don't do anything.

  9. Re:Inches from Tyranny by flyingsquid · · Score: 5, Funny
    "If Tyranny and Oppression come to this land, it will be in the guise of fighting a foreign enemy." -James Madison

    Whoever the hell this Madisen character he is, he's just aiding the terrorists by saying things like that. We should ship him off to Guantanamo.