The New York Times > National > Sensing the Eyes of Big Brother, and Pushing Back

The New York Times > National > Sensing the Eyes of Big Brother, and Pushing Back:
"Liberals quoted Newt Gingrich, the Republican former House speaker, who says that the federal law passed just after the Sept. 11 attacks needs to be reined in to protect basic civic birthrights.

Conservatives praised the campaign against the act by the American Civil Liberties Union, which says the law gives government unchecked power to rifle through an individual's financial and computer records and bookstore purchases.

And one Tumwater resident asked why all the fuss in a sleepy little town over a federal antiterror law.

In the end, the concerns over the Patriot Act - real or phantom - were enough to compel the Tumwater City Council on July 20 to join more than 330 communities and 4 states that have condemned or expressed worry about the act. The resolution called on city employees in this town near Olympia not to follow provisions of the law that violate the Constitution - though leaving it vague how they would interpret this.…"

http://www.nytimes.com/2004/08/08/national/08patriot.html?pagewanted=all&position=