Federal Government...How Far Should They Go?

There has always been a debate over the amount of power that the federal government should have. Starting with the construction of our government, through the slavery crises and still today, the feds, the states and the people still squabble over the range of federal power.

compared to the early years of our government, the national sector has branched out considerably in recent decades. the federal government has taken a greater interest in social programs and economic regulation and many agree that this has been beneficial to the country. but with the passage and renewal of the USA PATRIOT Act the government has branched out once again.

The controversy over the PATRIOT ACT comes mainly from the immense number of provisions that seem to limit individual liberties. The act grants the federal government and its agencies many additional powers in the areas of surveillance and detention. The wire tapping and search without a pre-obtained permit are two of the most talked about articles in the act that arguably have challenged individual rights. The government justifies the act by saying that all its provisions are necessary to maintain the safety and security of the USA but many rights groups are arguing that curbing civil liberties is never an option and is not an acceptable price to pay for security.

The debates continue and will eventually be reopened on the legislative floor when the 2005 renewal expires in 2015. but the big questions for US citizens is: Are civil liberties an acceptable price for national security?