She didn't know what she was heading for,
And when I found what she was heading for,
It was too late.

The Guess Who's 1971 hit could be interpreted in several ways, asong about sexual innuendo, creative song writing, or an expressionof political apathy. I think I'll take a look at the last version,and compare the Nixon administration and George Bush IIIadministration. Oh no, I another whiny liberal comparison. Actuallyno.

It is my belief that the fear of the PATRIOT Act has been blownout of proportion, not unlike that of those on the realization ofthe COINTELPRO program. Political spying is nothing new, nor areattempts to sabotage the competition. Richard Nixon's CREEP andtheir dirty tricks program is well known example of this, butcertainly other President have engaged in this.

President Johnson tacitly supported the bugging of Martin LutherKing. And he certainly supported the bugging of Barry Goldwaterduring his campaign. Probably Governor Rockefeller was also buggedin this period. The New Left, even under the Johnsonadministration, faced pressures by the government. Blame J. EdgarHoover, but he couldn't have survived all those years withoutpolitical support.

Unpopular political groups are going to face pressure from thegovernment and society as a whole. Part of being unpopular is beingoppressed. People are judged by the group they belong to, even ifthat's unfair. You drive a Plymouth Sundance, and people are goingto judge you for it (your probably a whinny lower class liberalbrat).

Back to Dick Nixon. Many people hated him, and some believed hehad a secret war against those not in the 'silent majority'. Toughnew statues enacted during his administration made many fear thatcivil liberties were in peril. Not to mention his consolidations ofgovernment, that made parts more responsible to him. It was likeKing Nixon was trying to take over the country. God bless the factthat Congress was in the hands of Democrats. Some how we allmanaged to survive Nixon, and our freedoms were not all thatabridged by it.

I have a question for you: give me a specific example of Nixonor Johnson curtails on civil liberties that have directly effectedyour life? Did any law that they passed restrict what you do on theday to day? Okay, maybe the Mail Order Murder Act of 1968 (I don'tremember the real name ;) might have¬you can't buy fire armsthrough the mail anymore. And Clean Air Act of 1970's amendmentswould limit what you could do with your car emission. On a day today basis, few of us tinker with emission systems, or buy gunsthrough the mail.

Neither of those things are scared rights, that civillibertarians are always taking about. Neither President made itmore difficult to participate in political debate. Johnsoncertainly did not restrict voter participation through the VotingRights Act of 1965. Throughout those two consecutive decades, therewere countless hearings on Capitol hill, commissions and committeesdebating the problems the country was facing. We saw the firstelected African American Senator during this period. Newspaperspublished what they saw fit to print, including theWatergate papers. Harassing radicals didn't significantly effectpublic debate.

Then there is the PATRIOT Act today. I read the complaints ofthe Civil Libertarians, and note the lack of substantive complaintsof lost liberty. Did this act directly effect your life or anythingyou do on a day to day bases? Since its inception, I doubt thatwriting your Senator is harder. Testimony seems to continue tostill flow in from Interest Groups and individuals. Running forpublic office is no more difficult under this act.

Oh, then there is the provision about libraries, that gets somelibrarians really mad. Does it matter what I read? Put the booksthat I take out from library or buy at bookstores on public record,for all I care. The public knowledge of me reading a book by NelsonRockefeller doesn't change who I am a bit or make me less likely toread the book. The websites I read are the same way. I wouldn'tcare the least if my whole life was on public record. If you're asick bastard or an investigator, you could then find all aboutme.

So much of my life is on a record already, so what does a littlemore hurt? The fact that I drive a Plymouth Sundance is on DMVrecords, as is my license plate number and VIN number that tellsstuff like the fact I have a 100 HP 2.5l 4-cylnder engine andautomatic seatbelt. Inevitably, if you dig deep enough, you'll findthe last repair I got done at Lou's for my car, where I'm going ona Thursday (just follow my car using a helicopter or use a buggingdevice installed in a public parking lot), etc.

Those are my thoughts on the PATRIOT Act. I'd rather spend mytime with real concerns, and real bills that will effect my life.Find out what's hot, by going to Interesting Legislation section.