From an unlikely source comes this analysis of the US Patriot Act in the editorial column:

Explaining the reasons why the USA Patriot Act runs counter to the traditional American concept of liberty is a daunting task. Most people - including the members of Congress who voted for it - haven't even read the Act in its entirety, if at all. Those are the uninformed. Then there are the misguided - those who are somewhat familiar with the legislation, but who accept it under the notion that some loss of freedom is inevitable if we're to protect ourselves from the scourge of terrorists.

The article ends with a famous quote attributed to Rev. Martin Neimoller:

First, they came for the Communists, and I didn't speak up, because I wasn't a Communist. Then they came for the Jews, and I didn't speak up, because I wasn't a Jew. Then they came for the Catholics, and I didn't speak up, because I was a Protestant. Then they came for me, and by that time there was no one left to speak up for me.

Read the whole thing. Simple and effective.