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In order to understand how the Patriot Act infringes our rights you first have to realize what freedom truly is. Freedom is not simply unlimited consumerism as modern media and the government would have people believe.

As a dear friend of mine once said, "The essence of freedom is the limitation of government." He wasn't far off. To paraphrase Webster's definition it is the ablity to act or move without restraint. Personally I like to interpret freedom to mean the right to live as you wish as long as you don't harm anyone or their property.

With that being said, the patriot act is an obvious infringment on your right to be left alone. When the government in a sense 'employs' librarians and bankers to spy on private transactions -as the patriot act does- it is reminiscent of Nazi Germany's secret police.

I was always taught growing up that we are inocent until proven guilty, then why am I to be treated as a terrorist and reported if I go to the bank to cash a $10,000 check?

The outcry is that the Patriot act has contributed to the safety of this country. Let us say that is true, as it very well may be. It is hard to judge what might have been. It seems to me that Patrick Henry once said, "Give me liberty, or give me death." (I often wonder what he would do if a policeman walked up to him and asked for his "papers".)

As for myself, I would rather protect myself and have liberty.

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