I understand the reversed viewpoints, but I think that, at its worst, the Patriot Act wouldn't go half as far as some of the proposals I read in that article. It's true that the wording of the law seems a bit threatening, but I think there are few politicians that would push for its complete enforcement; they'd lose every bit of support they had. In fact, the reason I've never been too worked up about the Patriot Act is simply because it's never really been utilized that broadly, even if the possibility does exist. Besides, I'm almost positive that it'll be repealed or just let to die out within the next 5-10 years, especially if the Democrats get control of Congress or the presidency. I get the feeling that, over here, even the people who are absolutely ignorant of the Bill of Rights would be caught up in a public uproar if the implications of restricting it were explained. On the other hand, at least from the tone of that article, I get the distinct impression that your politicians want do do more than pass legislation; they seem to want to enforce every last bit of it. Maybe I'm just getting the wrong vibe, though.