About a week ago, Congress just renewed the Patriot Act without any additions to the protection of our privacy. The Senate approved the measure without any debate on the topic, and the Democrats chickened out again and left their improvements to the bill, which would restore most of our privacies, waning in the wind due to the lack of a supermajority. 97 bold members of the House of Representatives stood up against this legislation, and voted not to extend the provisions of the bill, but the legislation passed easily, and President Obama signed it without hesitation.

The Associated Press reports that the the main three sections of the Patriot Act that will remain enforced are

–Authorize court-approved roving wiretaps that permit surveillance on multiple phones.

–Allow court-approved seizure of records and property in anti-terrorism operations.

–Permit surveillance against a so-called lone wolf, a non-U.S. citizen engaged in terrorism who may not be part of a recognized terrorist group.

While many people would say that these provisions should be enforced, the lack of debate about this issue is quite astonishing. Where are all the Libertarians, the supporters of Ron (and now Rand) Paul? Where are all the liberals? I would assume that the people who want terrorist suspects tried in a judicial court would want the law rescinded.

Many people say that they don’t care about their liberties being infringed on the basis of security. However, those people do not realize what a slippery slope that actually is. Let’s hope people who speak out against the government, are not defined as part of a “terrorist” operation.

We have to watch our liberties closely or they may disappear. Benjamin Franklin said it best “Those who would give up Essential Liberty to purchase a little Temporary Safety, deserve neither Liberty nor Safety.”

The only good news is that the renewal is only for a year, we better be ready to oppose this piece of horrendous legislation when it is up for renewal next February. Keep Your Eyes Open!