“...the Patriot Act followed 9-11 as smoothly as the suspension of the Weimar constitution followed the Reichstag fire.”

Yes, too true.

EXACTLY, and both governments lied about who perpetrated the deeds.

“Naturally the common people don't want war; neither in Russia, nor in England, nor in America, nor in Germany. That is understood. But after all, it is the leaders of the country who determine policy, and it is always a simple matter to drag the people along, whether it is a democracy, or a fascist dictatorship, or a parliament, or a communist dictatorship. Voice or no voice, the people can always be brought to the bidding of the leaders. That is easy. All you have to do is to tell them they are being attacked, and denounce the pacifists for lack of patriotism and exposing the country to danger. It works the same in any country.” Hermann Goering quote Look familiar?

I'm not trying to belittle the tragedy that was 911. Just pointing out the similarity in politics.

If my government was truly of, by and for the people, I would stand behind it's decisions which would be authorized by the people. I just can't believe that a majority of the citizens of this country approve of the way things have been going for the past 8 yrs.

As someone said, " Never underestimate the power of stupid people in large numbers". Our government once declared that owning gold was illegal and Americans lined up at banks to trade gold for paper. Sheeple.

There is a solution: impeach!

It takes an idiot to equate the two.

It takes patriotism and faith in the principles that are uniquely American to see the evil in such things as the Patriot Act, the Military Commissions Act, Immunity for Federal Agents (read: gestapo) Torture Camps, Real ID, Emminent Domain, The Fed....... and on and on.... But It takes blind "loyalism" to endorse it. Didn't America fight a war against a bunch of "Loyalists"? You know, for Freedom?

The Weimar Constitution was a suicide note, anyway.

Whether there was any government complicity in 911 as the Conspiricy theorists argue, its undeniable that politicians of all stripes seized the opportunity to ram through legislation that attacks the individuals rights to privacy and due process. Bush and the Republicans were at the forefront of this War of Terror.

Warren, this quote is not stating causation. The bill that we call the "Patriot Act," was not created post 9/11, but had already been presented before Congress in the early 1990's. Several Congressman said that it would take an event like Pearl Harbor to push that 90's bill through-- so, it was lost in committee for a decade. In the light of 9/11, the bill resurfaced and was pushed through within a few months after the catastophy. People, in a time of panic, are apt to shut their eyes to the loss of their freedom, so long as they have the perceived security they once had... This is not a unique happenstance to the United States, but has happened time and time again throughout history. Machiavelli even talks about this. The quote is merely stating the historical obvious. The Weimar Constitution WAS pushed aside just as easily as our own Constitution was (post 9/11) in order to meet the newly found needs of the country (or so they said).

It's not been proven who pulled off 911 (though there is a lot of speculation). It has been proven that the government's version of what happened is a lie. And for the quote's sake, it doesn't matter that the Nazi's started the fire. It is more than a coincidence that after the national disasters, the government(s) swooped in to take away rights and call it necessary for the public good. Very appropriate J Carlton

As Franklin said 'Any society that would give up a little liberty to gain a little security will deserve neither and lose both'.

This quote (as well as its authors name) is a mouthful. Leave it to bureaucrats to take advantage of every little opportunity to take any small piece of freedom from citizens. The Patriot Act certainly has provisions that could be abused. I don't know that they have been yet. If anyone has any evidence, let's hear it. However, knowing government, any and everything that can be abused eventually will be.

Ken, I've given a couple of examples of Patriot Act abuse that I am aware of personally and I've heard of many more. An attorney close friend of mine's mother died. He went and closed up her home and put the furniture in a U-haul and was driving through Penn when a policeman pulled him over. My friend was able to notify his twin brother who also happens to be an attorney. My friend was never charged, the truck was impounded, and after much legal haranguing by both brothers, my friend was able to see a judge several days later. The officer that pulled him over said he was able to do what he did under the Patriot Act. My friend was eventually freed but it took him a little while longer to get the truck with his dead mother's household back. I've also had a child held under the Patriot Act, but I won't talk about that, a little too close to home..

The Hegelian Principle -
Step one: CREATE A "PROBLEM":
Create it or take one that does exist and build it up out of all proportion to its real importance;
Step Two: PUBLICIZE THE "PROBLEM":
Make sure a story about this problem appears in the news media each and every day, in newspapers, news magazines, radio, and television. Hit it again and again in a "steady drumbeat" that soon has people who don't pay real attention to politics (which is the majority of them) clamoring for a "solution" to the problem;
Step Three: OFFER A "SOLUTION":
A solution that takes away one or more of our rights and further undermines the constitutional protections we all are supposed to enjoy. One that involves higher taxes (to pay for this "solution," of course), and one we would not have allowed them to do without this previous conditioning of the public.
Works like a “charm”
https://www.ipce.info/newsletters/e_23/02_hegelian.htm

http://youtu.be/krzyHYguJTQ
Ron Paul State of Liberty