All in all, another brick in the wall?

This little jewel caught my attention today:

Issued by the FBI without review by a judge, the letters are used to obtain electronic records from “electronic communications service providers.” Such providers include Internet service companies but also universities, public interest organizations and almost all libraries, because most provide access to the Internet...

...The Patriot Act provision involving national security letters was enacted permanently in 2001, so it was not part of Congress’ debate last summer over extending some Patriot Act provisions.

As the Dec. 31 deadline has approached for Congress to renew provisions of the act, the House and Senate have voted to make noncompliance with a national security letter a criminal offense.

Mmmm... last time I checked, weren’t we the ones supposed to be fighting for the cause of freedom? So, explain to me how giving up our own civil liberties fits into the battle?

Reminds me of the story I heard about the different ways to cook a lobster - throwing the beasty in a pot of boiling water is a tremendous shock but, putting the animal in luke warm water and slowly brining up the heat isn’t quite as noticeable.

Bit by bit, I think we are witnessing the days of personal privacy and civil liberty fade away.