Proud of my congressman for making a stand!

Rep. Lloyd Doggett: Reject the so-called Patriot Act
"Authoritarianism is not born full-bodied."
December 14, 2005

True patriots need not hide behind the flag nor apply phony titles to
cover the misguided purposes of their legislation. From its origin, the
grossly misnamed Patriot Act has cloaked its weakness by implying is
opponents are "un-patriots" - as in "unpatriotic."

This is all part of a troubling pattern: Secret prisons, sneak-and
peak searches, gag orders, redefining torture to exclude cruel and
degrading punishment, extraordinary rendition, combing through library
records, and even attempting to involve our military in spying on religious
groups -- these actions debase our values.

This bill should be rejected because it fails to strike the proper
balance between the security we demand and the liberties that we cherish.

Yes, Vice President Cheney emerged from his undisclosed, secure
location and took a brief pause from his campaign to preserve torture, in
order to enthusiastically embrace today's bill.

Intrusive, invasive powers in the hands of a few, with little oversight
and no accountability, is a formula for wrongdoing.

We should not surrender our civil liberties to any Administration.
Retreating to such abusive tactics is weakness, not strength.

We should not add even more powers to an Administration that has so
often been willing to abuse its existing powers.

We should not add more authority to an Administration that has acted in
authoritarian ways.

Real patriots understand: An all-powerful government can undermine
our security just as surely as a dangerous religious fanatic.

All this is occurring when the bipartisan 9-11 Commission, the
citizens' commission that this Administration fought at every step, has graded
the Administration and Republican-controlled Congress with an "F' for
failing to take the real steps that would protect our families. Instead
we get this kind of legislation.

Authoritarianism is not born full-bodied, it is conceived in small
injustices, which tolerated over time, become irreversible.

Benjamin Franklin understood when he said over 200 years ago that
"Those who would give up essential liberty to purchase a little temporary
safety deserve neither their liberty nor safety."

This much is certain: Each day of this Administration brings more news
of both deaths of true patriots abroad and more abuses to our values by
those who claim to be patriots at home.

This is an Administration where the ends always seem to justify the
means, and the ends are too often misguided. But their "ends" betray our
safety, and their "means" betray our values.

To those who promote this misguided Act, pull down your false colors;
raise the American flag of freedom. Reject this bill.


Sincerely,
Lloyd