SUPPORT SEN. RAND PAUL

SUPPORT SENATOR PAUL-DO NOT REAUTHORIZE THE PATRIOT ACT

Senator Rand Paul (R Ky) has taken to the Senate floor to announce his intention to try and stop Congress from extending the egregious spying powers incorporated in the U.S. Patriot Act. He is planning a filibuster. The so -called "Patriot Act" is due to expire at the end of this month (May 2015). Paul is dead right in opposing it. We as a nation, our allies, and our reputation as the world's premier democracy have suffered enough as a consequence of this misguided law, passed without sufficient thought or mature oversight in the chaotic, frought days right after the September 11, 2001 attack. There is not a scintilla of proof that any of its provisions have increased our security or prevented another terrorist attack. It has served the ingrained, powerful military-industrial complex well, however, being used overseas to function as an industrial spy on our allies and others (Germany comes to mind.) I say let the entire structure collapse on the 31st.

Provisions of the law have already been undermined by an appeals-court ruling which indicated that a critical part of the Bill, Section 215, has been misinterpreted by he government. As written, it does NOT authorize the NSA to collect BULK DATA as the government does now, routinely collecting electronic information, emails, telephone calls, social security data, etc. etc. etc. on every man woman and child in the USA. WERE IT NOT FOR THE REVELATIONS OF EDWARD SNOWDON, the true patriot in this story, we would not even have know about these illegal transgressions of the law and overreach by our government. As interpreted by the present government, the NSA has no need for oversight by Congrees, a warrant, or a hint of suspicious behavior, or even a far fetched "George Bush" type reason to pry into a citizen's private life, the NSA, read BIG GOVERMENT, can listen in and collect data on everyone, then store the data secretly and indefinitely, as these faceless beureaucrats trample with impunity on our sacred Bill of Rights.

I give kudos to Senator Paul for his patriotism and courage to oppose the majority of the robots in his Party who are all marching in the same direction...over the cliff as they oppose him. All thinking Americans should stand shoulder to shoulder with Senator Paul and those few others of like mind to stop the Senate from re-authorizing this mis-named unpatriotic bill.