Poll: Support for Patriot Act Shrinks the More People Know About It

[cal04]

Fewer than half of Americans know the purpose of the Patriot Act, and the more they know about it the less they like it, according to a poll released Monday.
Fewer than half of those polled, 42 percent, are able to correctly identify the law's main purpose of enhancing surveillance procedures for federal law enforcement agencies, according to the poll conducted by the Center for Survey Research and Analysis at the University of Connecticut.

Almost two-thirds of all Americans, 64 percent, said they support the Patriot Act. But support dropped to 57 percent among those who could accurately identify the intent of the legislation. The survey was intended to take a closer look at the high levels of public support the Patriot Act has gotten in various polls, said Samuel Best, the center's director.

"The Patriot Act has been a very visible piece of legislation," Best said. "We wanted to see if people had an understanding of the act that differentiated it from the war on terrorism generally." "Most people don't distinguish the Patriot Act from the war on terror in general," Best said. The House and Senate have voted to extend provisions of the Patriot Act that were set to expire at the end of this year, making many of those provisions permanent. A conference committee is scheduled to try this fall to work out differences in the House and Senate versions of the legislation.

Some provisions of the Patriot Act are supported by a solid majority, while others got far less support. The provision that permitted federal agents:
(too long to post all)
"Once people see these things hit increasingly close to home, they become more and more troubled," Best said. Three-fourths said they think that law enforcement will frequently or occasionally use the law to investigate crimes other than terrorism. Almost as many, 72 percent, said they expect it will be used to investigate legitimate political and social groups. People are evenly divided on whether the law has prevented terrorist attacks. While numerous polls have indicated widespread support for the Patriot Act, Best said his research suggests "people are pretty torn on where they stand."

http://ap.tbo.com/ap/breaking/MGBJWWHAZCE.html

[BlueJac]

1. No Kidding

That is breaking news for sure......that act is miss named for sure.

[bpilgrim]

2. will our LEADERS fight this or does it risk too much negative publicity?

:argh:

peace

[wli]

5. if they try, the rethugs and DLC will smear in concert

And Cheney may even anthrax and/or Wellstone them again.

[bpilgrim]

8. so they better keep their heads down, eh?

Patriot Act Signing - they all know how momentous this event is, finally stripping the people of their privacy rights after all these years of trying.

peace

[wli]

10. perhaps explaining the threat would help defuse it somewhat

I suppose even that is too much to ask.

[wli]

3. few mention FISC (FISA Courts) in its context

Which is disturbing since what the USA PATRIOT Act appears to do is to make the entire ordinary criminal justice system function in a similar manner.

[goforit]

4. America?....Time to inform yourselves!!..Hope it's not too late.

[rodeodance]

11. there is an attitude that the Government will do what is best for the

country (and thus the people).

[54anickel]

6. And fewer than half those that signed it even read the damned thing. n/t

[Mountainman]

7. Support for anything this administration or the repukes do shrinks the

more people know about it. That's why they have to lie about everything they do or try to hide what they do behind a wall of secrecy.

[UpInArms]

9. here's what this piece of garbage legislation does:

http://www.yourmailinglistprovider.com/pubarchive_show_message_iframe.php?haney+468

The USA Patriot Act:


Violates the First Amendment freedom of speech guarantee, right to peaceably assemble provision, and petition the government for redress of grievances provision; it violates the First Amendment to the Constitution three times.


Violates the Fourth Amendment guarantee of probable cause in astonishingly major and repeated ways. The Fourth Amendment to the Constitution reads: "The right of the people to be secure in their persons, houses, papers, and effects, against unreasonable searches and seizures, shall not be violated, and no Warrants shall issue, but upon probable cause, supported by Oath or affirmation, and particularly describing the place to be searched, and the persons of things to be seized." The Patriot Act, now passed and the law of the land, has revoked the necessity for probable cause, and now allows the police, at any time and for any reason, to enter and search your house - and not even tell you about it.


Violates the Fifth Amendment by allowing for indefinite incarceration without trial for those deemed by the Attorney General to be threats to national security. The Fifth Amendment guarantees that no person shall be deprived of life, liberty or property without due process of law, and the Patriot Act does away with due process. It even allows people to be kept in prison for life without even a trial.


Violates the Sixth Amendment guarantee of the right to a speedy and public trial. Now you may get no trial at all, ever.


Violates the Eighth Amendment (cruel and unusual punishment).


Violates the 13th Amendment (punishment without conviction).

[stepnw1f]

12. Right Wing Attempts to Supercede the Constitution

and shame on the idiot Democrats for goind along with it.

They should have known better than to trust a Republican Administration.

[Greeby]

13. Penn and Teller sum it all up on their show

Be advised, contains some nudity and a whole lotta swearin

http://www.crooksandliars.com/2005/06/14.html#a3444

[Arkana]

14. No shit, Sherlock.

I would think logic would dictate exactly this. People weren't informed, and silence is assumed consent.

[NNN0LHI]

15. Most Americans don't know goal of Patriot Act

http://www.suntimes.com/output/news/cst-nws-pat30.html

WASHINGTON -- Fewer than half of Americans know the purpose of the Patriot Act, and the more they know about it the less they like it, according to a poll released Monday.

Fewer than half of those polled, 42 percent, are able to correctly identify the law's main purpose of enhancing surveillance procedures for federal law enforcement agencies, according to the poll by the Center for Survey Research and Analysis at the University of Connecticut.

69% back Internet monitoring

Almost two-thirds of all Americans, 64 percent, said they support the Patriot Act. But support dropped to 57 percent among those who could accurately identify the intent of the legislation.

The provision that permitted federal agents:

[tuvor]

16. Might help if they didn't call it the "Patriot" Act.

It's the "P.A.T.R.I.O.T. Act".

"Providing Appropriate Tools Required to Intercept and Obstruct Terrorism."