@HighShaman I once lived with a woman who had been a deputy with the Los Angeles County Sheriff for about ten years. One of the most frightening things that she told me was, __“If you’re questioned by the police in the case of a crime (and you’re not the obvious victim) never volunteer information. In fact, don’t even have the interview without an attorney present. If you’re being questioned, then you’re a potential or likely suspect, and they are using everything you say to build a case. Guilt or innocence has nothing to do with our ‘justice system’, only “what can be proved”.__ Whatever you say can and will be used against you.
She had a lot of good and helpful advice about dealing with cops—and she liked and was proud of her own experience—but she was deadly serious whenever she mentioned this.
Anyway, that’s not directly relevant to the question, but it’s applicable, I think. The PATRIOT Act isn’t about law enforcement, security, making our lives better or any of the other pabulum that we’re served: It’s all and only about government accumulation of power and control over citizens. I don’t expect it to be overturned without a sea change in our entire system of government.