Dear Congressman Davis
p2pnet.net News View:- RoadBlock over at P2PConsortium is a big EFF (Electronic Frontier Foundation) fan and, he emailed us, Thought you might be interested in reading this thread at P2PC.
We were ; ) Thanks RoadBlock.
Read on >>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>
Letter from my congressman, and my response
By RoadBlock – P2PConsortium
As many of you know by now, I am a big supporter of the EFF. (Electronic Frontier Foundation) This organization exists as a watchdog to help us preserve our rights and freedoms (particularly concerning the world wide web) that are currently being threatened by many sources, especially by our own government. I just received an email response from my state representative in Washington, D.C. concerning an email I had sent to him through the EFF’s Call To Action Center regarding my ambivalence about the increasing misuse and extension of the so-called “Patriot Act.” I am enclosing the content of his email, as well as my response:
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August 16, 2005
Mr. Xxxxxxx Xxxxxx
PO BOX XXX
XX Xxxxxx Xxx
Xxxxx, Xxxxxxxx XXXXX-XXXX
Dear Mr. Xxxxxx:
Thank you for taking time to voice your concerns about the U.S.A. PATRIOT and Terrorism Prevention Reauthorization Act of 2005 (Patriot Act). I appreciate the opportunity to respond.
It is my duty to strengthen and protect the security of our nation. The reauthorized Patriot Act is more efficient and less intrusive than the original bill. The concerns of citizens, as well as those of those of the intelligence, law enforcement, and defense communities, shaped itsreformation. Great care was taken to craft the bill to protect the security and privacy of our citizens.
The House Judiciary Committee held more than a dozen public hearings on the reauthorization of the Patriot Act. Many of those hearings were televised on CSPAN. More information on those hearings may be obtained on the Internet at this address: http://judiciary.house.gov/. In addition, the House Select Intelligence Committee held two open hearings and one closed hearing. That single hearing was closed in the interest of national security.
On July 21st, 2005, The House of Representatives debated the reauthorization of the Patriot Act for nine and a half hours before it was passed by a bipartisan vote of 257-171. Fourteen original provisions received permanent reauthorization. The most controversial provisions, sections 206 and 215, were reauthorized for a period of ten years.
Section 206 provides for the use of “roving wiretaps” to investigate persons suspected of terrorism or international espionage. Roving wiretaps are the primary defense against terrorists’ use of disposable cellular phones. Section 206 allows investigations to focus on individuals rather than individual phone numbers. Judicial approval is required to begin wiretap surveillance. An investigator must notify the same judge within a reasonable time of a surveillance change from the initial number or place to a new one. The investigator must specify the total number of
electronic surveillances that have been or are being conducted. The reformed section 206 increases the role of the judiciary to secure greater protections for the privacy of persons not under investigation.
Much of the apprehension surrounding the Patriot Act is related to section 215, the provision that permits access to business records in the course of foreign intelligence surveillance or a terrorism investigation. Since 2001, section 215 has only been used 35 times. This section has never been used to secure library, bookstore, gun sale, or medical records. The authority granted under Section 215 requires the approval of a federal judge. The Department of Justice must report its section 215 activity to Congress every six months. When access to records is
requested, a record keeper has the right to challenge the request, consult an attorney, and consult their coworkers, before he or she provides investigators with the records sought. To further prevent abuse of power, the Patriot Act now requires the Director of the FBI to personally approve requests for library or bookstore records.
Section 213 of the Patriot Act authorizes delayed notification searches. In certain narrow cases, the PATRIOT Act permits courts to approve delayed notice of a search warrant’s execution in specified circumstances. Delayed notification warrants are a longstanding crime-fighting tool that courts across the country have upheld for decades. Every federal court of appeals that examined the issue found that delayed-notice search warrants are constitutional. Under the Patriot Act, a delayed notice warrant may be issued if the court finds it will prevent death or physical harm, escape from prosecution, evidence tampering, witness intimidation, or serious jeopardy to an investigation. Thus, in narrowly defined, distinctive situations, Section 213 permits a Judge to approve a delayed notification search warrant.
Of the approximately 7,000 allegations of civil rights violations blamed on abuses of the Patriot Act, not a single violation resulted from its application. Congress and the federal government take such allegations very seriously. The House Judiciary Committee has held numerous oversight hearings on the subject. Such allegations are investigated by the Department of Justice’s Office of the Inspector General, the FBI Inspection Division, the Drug Enforcement Agency’s Office of Professional Responsibility, and the Bureau of Prisons’ Office of Internal Affairs. In addition the Inspector General’s Offices at the Department of Defense, the Central Intelligence Agency, and the Department of State, among others, have investigated such allegations. Urban legends surround the Act. In truth, it is faithfully and responsibly administered by the intelligence and law enforcement communities for the security of the nation and to the detriment of international spies and terrorists.
The Constitution and the freedoms it protects are sacred to me. Indeed, I always keep in mind Benjamin Franklin’s assertion that those willing to trade liberty for security deserve neither. The protection of civil liberties and defense of national security are not mutually exclusive objectives. Strong national security ensures protection for the freedoms we hold dear.
Thank you for the opportunity to address these important issues. Please let me know if I can be of further assistance.
Sincerely,
Geoff Davis
Member of Congress
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Congressman Davis,
Thanks for your response. Our (and I use that term loosely) government is currently engaging in far too many dubious activities which are eroding our freedoms as provided by our constitution. We are losing these freedoms to special interests groups, particularly the huge media conglomerates and those who are taking advantage of base fears brought about by the 9-11 attacks to sacrifice true freedoms for so-called “security.” Using our nation’s law enforcement organizations to police the special interests of Big Media is a ridiculous misuse and abuse of resources, and an example of what can happen when our government loses it’s proper focus: John Q. Citizen, not John Q. Corporation. I find your quoting of Benjamin Franklin to be especially ironic, as I believe that Mr. Franklin and many others of our founding fathers are turning over in their graves from these days.
Power Corrupts. Absolute Power Corrupts Absolutely.
You are in Washington to ‘represent’ the views of your constituents. Since your views of ‘personal freedom’ are not in line with the good people you are being paid to represent, it appears that we may need to start shopping for another candidate for next election. If this becomes necessary, I will advise as many of my friends and family from Ky. who value their personal freedoms as much as I do, to do the same. I will be closely monitoring your activities and voting proclivities in the immediate future as I make my decision and decide upon my course of action.
Sincerely,
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August 22nd, 2005 at 6:35 pm
The gross abuse of power in this country is sickening. A Miami councilman killed himself because the media threatened to reveal his homosexuality. Information they gathered secretly through secret evidence gathering.
I am currently being watched and listened to, they do a shabby job unless they are wanting to be notice for the intimidation value.
How, the American people alway their employees to tell them what to do and what they the employees will do is beyond me. We the people must take back our power instead of giving into fear.
I am an Activist and am fighting to expose the severe corruption in the state of Florida. I have talked with both Charlie Crist and Jeb Bush and they refuse to do anything about corrupt governmental employees. I guess it is easier to watch me and attempt to make something of it.
Many politicans are much like pedephiles, they prey on the poor, weak, women and they grossly abuse their powers and when found out simply say sorry or create a smokescreen story to divert people’s attention from the truth.
American people are in for a rough and rocky road, which will cause people to respect FREEDOM, when they feel it again, they will have had to fight for it!
Sincerely,
Alene D. Atkins, Activist, Mother and Eduactor
August 22nd, 2005 at 7:03 pm
The gross abuse of power in this country is sickening. A Miami councilman killed himself because the media threatened to reveal his homosexuality; information they gathered secretly through secret evidence gathering.
I am currently being watched and listened to, they do a shabby job unless they are wanting to be notice for the intimidation value. The real terrorist is the government and they use the law enforcement agencies to their advantage. Any person who speaks truth or criticizes public officials are retaliated against. This is overcourse illegal but who cares, right? The Constitution no longer exists/seems to matter – when you consider the actions of the government.
One of the benefits of this loss of rights is that people are constantly being forced to pay attention again, and care about every aspect of life. We as a people, had gotten away from that and have been selfishly living our lives without regard to one another.
How citizens(the Employer) allow their employees(Elected Officials) to tell them what to do is beyond me. We the people must take back our power instead of giving into fear, we must become thinkers again and not make quick decisions but take our time and think through information which is represented to us.
We must sacrafice some things, stop buying gas; carpool, catch the bus, ride a bike. This make get our opinions hear in respect to the gas price hike.
Regarding, the monopoloy of all media facets, we must turn off the televisions, stop supporting the monopoly and demand real news and real information be presented to us and we must participate in the gathering and resentation of that news and information.
I am an Activist and am fighting to expose the severe corruption in the state of Florida. I have talked with both Charlie Crist and Jeb Bush and they refuse to do anything about corrupt governmental employees. I guess it is easier to watch me and attempt to make something of it.
I am a Whistle blower in my area and exposed the child abuse theft of oxygen and blood, stole from infants during birth by OB/GYN doctors. Instead of exposing this Fraud so we can schedule forums and change the current procedures, Charlie Crist allowed his employees to push the “Panic Button” and have the Florida Capitol Police throw me out of the Florida Capitol and the employee”s (named Zee) cheif complaint was that I was filing complaints all morning long.
The Attorney General’s (Charlie Crist/Florida) complaint form instructed me to return the form back to the capital office which I was doing and because the staff and I am sure Charlie Crist did not approve my civil rights and human rights were violated again by the person (Charlie Crist) who was supposed to protect me. This is sickening. Still, to this very day he has done nothing to demand a forensic investigation of the abuse of Florida’s children at the hands of OB/GYN doctors.
Many politicans are much like pedephiles, they prey on the poor, the weak, women and they grossly abuse their powers. When they are exposed, they simply say sorry or create a smokescreen story to divert people’s attention from the truth. In my case, they simply say she has been Baker Acted and is not mentally stable, that is the smokescreen, they hide behind. When will this abuse be discovered by the masses of people. When will someone ask, why are so many C-sections performed? Why are the cords of the infants clamped immediately after birth? Who will ask, why is there an increase in anemia, attention deficit disorders, low birth weight (weight loss shortly after birth due to blood deprivation)? Who will ask why is jaundice on the increase? These ailments are induced by OB/GYN doctors, they cause harm, even though they vow to “Do No Harm!” The theft of our babies oxygenated blood is criminal; this suffocating of our infants deprives their brains, lungs, liver and etc. of the oxygen in the blood cause harm and compromise the babies qualities of life.
American people are in for a rough and rocky road, which will cause people to respect FREEDOM, when they feel it again, they will have had to fight for it!
Sincerely,
Alene D. Atkins, Activist, Mother and Eduactor
August 22nd, 2005 at 8:06 pm
i live in ky and am registered to vote. i’ll definitely take note for when election time comes around.
August 22nd, 2005 at 9:44 pm
“You need only reflect that one of the best ways to get yourself a reputation as a dangerous citizen these days is to go about repeating the very phrases which our founding fathers used in the struggle for independence.”
-Charles Austin Beard
August 23rd, 2005 at 5:52 am
Big thanks to Jon, and the gang here at P2PNet. Hopefully this might spur other like minded readers to get involved in the fight. It is definately a fight we’re in, a fight with the big media barons and the government officials whose pockets are getting lined by them. If we don’t speak up, and let them know we aren’t going to stand for it any more, we deserve our fate. The EFF (Electronic Frontier Foundation) is a great place to start. Get invloved! Go on over to http://www.eff.org and see what you can do to help. If you aren’t an American citizen, then I’m sure there must be agencies in your own countries where you can help. I’m sure Jon can point our brother & sister Canadians in some good directions. What are you waiting for?
Roadblock
P2P Consortium Admin