I agree, as long as the Patriot Act actually does go away at some point. All it would take is the right (or actually wrong) types to be in Government to extend and expand that act and its provisions.

Keep in mind, also, that it's not just the Patriot Act I'm talking about. I'm also looking at the general trend towards Prohibition of any behavior that doesn't suit the current popular trend. Witness the law in Ohio that prevents someone from smoking in their own vehicle if it's company-owned. Witness the (now defunct) law in the same state that requires a concealed weapons licensee to have their weapon IN FULL VIEW ON THE SEAT of their vehicle.

There is a movement towards implanting a ID chip in children to facilitate finding them should they become lost or abducted. What else could be done with this chip? Who has access to spending information gleaned from your credit and debit cards? And to travel and movement information generated by the EZPass in your car?

George Orwell isn't spinning - he's now just shaking his head.