Is the “Patriot Act” Patriotic?

     Officially known as the “Uniting and Strengthening America by Providing Appropriate Tools Required to Intercept and Obstruct Terrorism Act”, the "Patriot Act" was written shortly after  September 11^th in response to the terrorist attacks in 2001. The bill was passed with little objection due to the push for national security as well as its branding and title. The law’s main thrust was to give the federal government more power and authorization in actively searching for, deterring and preventing future terrorist activity. Supporters of the Patriot Act claim that the bill has been instrumental in foiling several terrorist plots and has led to numerous investigations and arrests. Opponents of the law question its constitutionality and hold that it infringes on our right to privacy as American citizens.

     In 2005, As part of the reauthorization of the "Patriot Act", three new tools were implemented to help fight against terrorism, one of them being the controversial section 215. Section 215 increased the power of the FBI so that they can demand “any tangible thing” that the FBI feels is valid to the fight against terrorism. No probable cause is necessary for the FBI to confiscate any books, documents, or papers one has. Neither do they need a warrant to obtain what they wish to confiscate. This goes directly against our constitutional fourth amendment right.

      Although the government justifies that these measures are necessary for our own safety, many question if we have given up too much of our own freedom in exchange. With or without section 215 the government can still prosecute people if necessary. However,  looking through a citizens emails to a friend or family member has not produced the answers that the government is looking for.

“It is not acceptable to willfully ignore the most basic provision of our constitution-in this case- the Fourth and First amendments- in the name of “security””
                                                                                                  –Senator Rand Paul

Is it really American for the federal government to have so much power, knowledge and control over the citizens of a 'free' country? Every day the National Security Agency (NSA) has the ability and legal right to go through your texts, emails and listen in during your phone conversations. "The Patriot Act" though well intentioned, requires us to sacrifice our privacy and anonymity for the promise of a safer more secure way of life. How does this make you feel? Do you consider our nation more secure knowing that Uncle Sam is watching YOU?

"USA Patriot Act." Welcome To FinCEN.gov. N.p., n.d. Web. 10 Sept. 2013.

<http://www.fincen.gov/statutes_regs/patriot/>

"Reform the Patriot Act." American Civil Liberties Union. N.p., n.d. Web. 10 Sept. 2013.<https://www.aclu.org/reform-patriot-act>

Rand Paul | United States Senator. N.p., n.d. Web. 10 Sept. 2013.
<http://www.paul.senate.gov/record.cfm?id=331164>

"The USA PATRIOT Act." Senate Judiciary Committee. N.p., n.d. Web. 10 Sept. 2013.
<http://www.judiciary.senate.gov/about/history/PatriotAct.cfm>

Introduction to IT Impacts on Politics and Policies

When we cast our votes, most of us would like to be confident that we are making the best decision possible. When we choose a political candidate, we generally want the leaders we are voting for to be credible. The same applies to practices in policy. Being knowledgable about important issues is vital for making informed decisions. Today’s advancements in Information Technologies make staying up-to-date easier than ever. 

Now try to imagine politics without IT: the virtual databases, television, internet, software, cell phones, all of it. How would you make your decision? The thought of how much effort it would take to stay politically active without the news on television or the internet is exhausting. Information Technology is continually advancing, increasing the amount of accessible data.  

The presence of Information Technologies in politics and policies have been apparent since it’s formation. Former President Franklin D. Roosevelt made the first impact on the way we communicate politically through his Fireside Chats on the radio. John F. Kennedy and Richard Nixon introduced a new technology to politics by being the first to televise the presidential debates for the Presidential Election of 1960. More recently, the internet in particular has made a huge impact on politics. In the Presidential Elections of 2008 and 2012, President Obama fundraised for his election campaign online and made a record-holding amount of money. He has also used social media in his campaigns more than any other candidate in history. 

President Obama isn’t the only politician who uses Information Technology in his campaigns. Databases that record information on one’s political views are relied on heavily for strategic marketing. This way, certain information can be sent out to specific people. Marketing online via databases and e-mail is more cost efficient as well. 

On an individual level, it has been widely debated whether or not the use of IT’s have influenced people to be more involved in politics. On one hand, IT’s such as the internet or cell phones make it possible to quickly spread information, become a part of an online organization, and easily research information. The other side criticizes that IT’s have caused a decline in political participation. According to the Bureau of the Census, statistics have shown a decline in the amount of American voters.

In addition, there is evidence of a decline in belonging to a political party while there has been an increase in campaigns that focus on single interests. This could be due to the ease of access on individual topics. Because people can so easily learn a lot about one single topic, they can be very passionate about it particularly. The internet makes it easy to find similar interests and join coalitions or campaigns to become involved. No studies have been conducted on the relationship between IT and politics, so it is difficult to determine the amount of influence the internet has on politics.

Impacts of IT on campaigns, political communication, and political involvement only begin to exemplify the importance of these technologies in politics. Internationally, IT’s have made it more easy and efficient to work with global organizations, but there have also been protest movements in many Authoritarian Governments. Many believe that the uprises were fueled by the introduction of social media and the internet into their governments. Another popular topic is the governments role in Information Technologies and how this effects our politics. While the government has the ability to collect data on citizens, the citizens also have information available in regards to government scandals and policies. This blog will serve to discuss these types of topics in relation to the impacts IT’s have on politics and policies.

Works Cited

Blog. Week 5: Information Technology and Democracy. Impact of Information Systems on Society. WordPress, 31 Jan. 2011. Web. 1 Sept. 2013. <http://impactofinformationsystemsonsociety.wordpress.com/2011/01/31/week-5-information-technology-and-democracy/>.

 Cohen, Steve. "The Impact of Technology on Political Communication." The New York Observer. WordPress, 23 June 2009. Web. 1 Sept. 2013. <http://observer.com/2009/06/the-impact-of-technology-on-political-communication/>.

  Jennings, Jerry. Bernstein, Robert. "The Decline in American Voter Turnout." Bureau of the Census. U.S. Department of Commerce, 1991. Web. 1 Nov. 1991. <http://www.census.gov/population/socdemo/voting/SB91-23.pdf>.

  Agre, Philip E. "Information Technology in the Political Process." Technology and Social Change (1998): n. pag. Web. 1 Sept. 2013. <http://polaris.gseis.ucla.edu/pagre/political.html>.