There are many current public policy issues that are surrounding the U.S today. To name a few that I believe are most important; Abortion, Gun Control, Immigration, Counter Terrorism, the Patriot Act, Homeland Security, Civil liberties, Civil Rights, and Privacy. I would like to discuss the Patriot Act because I feel that it is a topic of much debate and one that I am extremely, extremely familiar with. It also affects the last three public policy issues I mentioned and in a sense covers them. I believe it is the most important federal policy issue that is at the forefront of national news because it affects all American’s in one way or another. If you are using a cell phone, a computer, a laptop, or anything electronic that stores information,
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counterterrorism efforts. One of the most controversial measures was the 2001 USA PATRIOT Act, which significantly enhanced the federal government's ability to collect and analyze private information related to U.S. citizens. “USA Patriot Act” is an acronym for “Uniting and Strengthening America by Providing Appropriate Tools Required to Intercept and Obstruct Terrorism Act of 2001”. The Patriot Act was created with a broad purpose. That purpose was meant to strengthen domestic surveillance activities and broaden the powers of law-enforcement agencies with regards to identifying and stopping terrorists (Appalachian, 2016). The passing and renewal of the Patriot Act has been extremely controversial. Supporters claim that it's been instrumental in a number of investigations and arrests of terrorists, while critics counter the act gives the government too much power, threatens civil liberties and undermines the very democracy it seeks to protect. The area of domestic intelligence raises several complex issues. First, law enforcement and intelligence operate in different worlds: one seeks to prosecute, the other to gather information. Second, with the development of multiple state fusion centers and the creation of additional organizations focused on intelligence collection, there is a corresponding increase in bureaucratization (Security, 2007). This adds to the challenge of sharing …show more content…
Keith Alexander made the same claim testifying before Congress. "Yet, the fact remains that there have been at least 60 publicly released Islamist-inspired terrorist plots against the homeland since 9/11 prevented", illustrating the continued threat of terrorism against the United States (Zuckerman, 2013). "Fifty-three of these plots were thwarted long before the public was ever in danger, due in large part to the concerted efforts of U.S. law enforcement and intelligence”. Also in an analysis of 225 al-Qaeda-linked individuals charged with terrorism in the U.S. since 9/11, the report found NSA mass surveillance of Americans telephone records authorized under Section 215 of the USA PATRIOT Act, played an important role in initiating, most of these investigations and arrests (Zuckerman, 2013). As of 2016, the final tally has now risen that number to 92 total foiled terrorist plots against the United States from the use of domestic intelligence collection programs (Walters,
counterterrorism efforts. One of the most controversial measures was the 2001 USA PATRIOT Act, which significantly enhanced the federal government's ability to collect and analyze private information related to U.S. citizens. “USA Patriot Act” is an acronym for “Uniting and Strengthening America by Providing Appropriate Tools Required to Intercept and Obstruct Terrorism Act of 2001”. The Patriot Act was created with a broad purpose. That purpose was meant to strengthen domestic surveillance activities and broaden the powers of law-enforcement agencies with regards to identifying and stopping terrorists (Appalachian, 2016). The passing and renewal of the Patriot Act has been extremely controversial. Supporters claim that it's been instrumental in a number of investigations and arrests of terrorists, while critics counter the act gives the government too much power, threatens civil liberties and undermines the very democracy it seeks to protect. The area of domestic intelligence raises several complex issues. First, law enforcement and intelligence operate in different worlds: one seeks to prosecute, the other to gather information. Second, with the development of multiple state fusion centers and the creation of additional organizations focused on intelligence collection, there is a corresponding increase in bureaucratization (Security, 2007). This adds to the challenge of sharing …show more content…
Keith Alexander made the same claim testifying before Congress. "Yet, the fact remains that there have been at least 60 publicly released Islamist-inspired terrorist plots against the homeland since 9/11 prevented", illustrating the continued threat of terrorism against the United States (Zuckerman, 2013). "Fifty-three of these plots were thwarted long before the public was ever in danger, due in large part to the concerted efforts of U.S. law enforcement and intelligence”. Also in an analysis of 225 al-Qaeda-linked individuals charged with terrorism in the U.S. since 9/11, the report found NSA mass surveillance of Americans telephone records authorized under Section 215 of the USA PATRIOT Act, played an important role in initiating, most of these investigations and arrests (Zuckerman, 2013). As of 2016, the final tally has now risen that number to 92 total foiled terrorist plots against the United States from the use of domestic intelligence collection programs (Walters,