Maybe it's because I've held a Top Secret security clearance once...

[felix_numinous]

136. Do you have any suggestions

as to how progressives can work toward doing away with the Patriot act? Petitions, demonstrations, or belief in our next candidates for public office?

How do people work toward inhibiting the overreach of these departments while they have us checkmated with surveillance?

My father had very high clearance. I got used to monitoring, but I never liked it. I saw something I wasn't supposed to and was harassed pretty bad, lets just say I believe I have a form of PTSD from my experiences. As a result the subject of surveillance is something that I feel very strongly about. I'm sure some people around here noticed my intensity. The same must be true for ex prisoners or people harassed by police.

Their is a dark side that comes with secrecy and abuse-- at some point all of the 'collateral damage' reaches critical mass. Cause and effect. I don't think people are that naive, just waking up to the levels of corruption, and not wanting to go along with this program. This is a process that is unfolding, and people HAVE to be allowed to vent, then calm down, collect the facts and then hopefully stay focused on the best course of events. I say this because this is my process also.