Jobs bill includes renewal of Patriot Act

[myp]

The "jobs" bill which is currently being pushed in Washington includes a provision that would extend the Patriot Act, the bill that the left destroyed Republicans for. As someone who is a big believer in freedom, I naturally oppose the Patriot Act and see it as an unnecessary infringement into the lives of people. Tons of Americans oppose the Patriot Act and a stand alone renewal would be a lot harder to pass- attaching it to a "jobs" bill which is being deemed another "savior" makes it easier to push through.

No surprise that once they were in power, many Democrats seemed to change their minds and started liking the Patriot Act too- just goes to show you how those in government sometimes are.

Thoughts?

 

[GOP]

... And it happens under Obama. To me it doesn't seem like the first time Obama and his Democrat friends have changed their minds.

 

[dave]

This is not a surprise. Government always seeks to expand, it does not voluntarily give up power. Obama campaigned against all kinds of programs Bush promoted because it was convenient at the time, but now that Obama is holding the reins and has the benefit of those programs, he isn't going to give them up. As many liberals - excuse me, progressives - have said, the ends justify the means, and if they have to trample over every individual freedom on the books to implement their dream world, they will do it.

Power and control is the name of the game. Like the saying goes, its not Red vs. Blue, its you vs the State.

 

[GOP]

This is not a surprise. Government always seeks to expand, it does not voluntarily give up power. Obama campaigned against all kinds of programs Bush promoted because it was convenient at the time, but now that Obama is holding the reins and has the benefit of those programs, he isn't going to give them up. As many liberals - excuse me, progressives - have said, the ends justify the means, and if they have to trample over every individual freedom on the books to implement their dream world, they will do it.

Power and control is the name of the game. Like the saying goes, its not Red vs. Blue, its you vs the State.

Lovely commented. The Obama administration wants to do everything to get more power and control over people and to put their finger into things they really shouldn't bother doing in the first place. This is exactly why I'd vote Republican and not Democrat because I believe in the free choices of the people. Ronald Reagan said it beautifull that governments first duty is to protect the people, not run their lives.

 

[Dirk]

Power and control is the name of the game. Like the saying goes, its not Red vs. Blue, its you vs the State.

Completely agree with that.

governments first duty is to protect the people, not run their lives.

My my, isn't someone in a utopic mood today?

 

[GOP]

My my, isn't someone in a utopic mood today?

Haha, more of a realistic mood really

 

[deanhills]

I'm completely confused. Why is it called a jobs bill when there is so little about jobs in it?

about half of the proposal had nothing to do with new jobs. The single largest chunk, about $31 billion, went to renew expiring tax breaks that are generally useful but unrelated to jobs. Another $10 billion would renew an expiring Medicare payment formula so doctors wouldn?t face a pay cut.

Source: NY Times

Agreed, the USA Patriot Act portion of it has to be both a shocker and incomprehensible. Hope all of it gets chucked out by the Senate.

 

[myp]

I'm completely confused. Why is it called a jobs bill when there is so little about jobs in it?

The naming and references used for bills is usually just a political play. The Patriot Act is another example of that. The better the name, the more likely people who don't actually read about the bill will think it is good. The "stimulus" also comes to mind.