>I believe there must be a balance between the rights of the individual and those of the state. When one intrudes upon the other then there will be an outcry. :)
>

I agree with this part. But with the Patriot Act, the state has thrown the balance over to their side. IMO, the state has intruded on us, the people.

I grow up understanding that the people of this country were the government. But guess, even that was just political propaganda.