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Questions or comments? Please contact the editor, Denise Shanks
This relates to chapter 4’s policy debate on the USA Patriot Act. The two interviews are from two diametrically opposed perspectives of the law, Connie Rice, a civil liberties attorney, and John Ashcroft, former Attorney General of the United States. The goal is to better understand the law and the debate surrounding it.
Listen to these two audio interviews.* *NPR media files require either Windows Media Player or Real Player.
Tavis Smiley interviews Connie Rice: http://www.npr.org/features/feature.php? wfId=1960189
1. List two controversial provisions from the USA PATRIOT Act (you can also find these in the chapter).
2. Explain the concerns of Connie Rice about Patriot Act I and II.
3. How would Attorney General Ashcroft respond to these concerns?
4. James Madison in Federalist #51 argues that "If men were angels, no government would be necessary. If angels were to govern men, neither external nor internal controls on government would be necessary." Furthermore, Thomas Jefferson believed that “eternal vigilance is the price of liberty.” What do you think these founders meant?
5. Benjamin Franklin believed that those who give up essential liberty to obtain a little temporary safety deserve neither. Do you think the Patriot Act forces us to give up too much freedom? Explain
