I sent emails via Demand Progress and the EFF to urge my representatives not to vote to extend the PATRIOT Act. The emails were sent to Mark Pryor and John Boozman.

Here is Mark Pryor’s response sent in an email:

Thank you for contacting me regarding the reauthorization of the USA PATRIOT Act. I appreciate hearing from you.

The USA PATRIOT Act [P.L. 107-56] was specifically enacted to assist the intelligence community with time-critical national security investigations. As you know, certain provisions within the law were set to expire on May 27, 2011.  Allowing them to expire would have left our intelligence officials with fewer tools to continue foreign intelligence, international terrorism, or international espionage investigations. On May 26, 2011, the Senate voted 72-23 to reauthorize these expiring provisions.

While it is critical that our intelligence community has the necessary tools at its disposal to protect us from the threat of terrorism, I share your concerns regarding potential civil liberty violations resulting from abuse of those same laws meant to protect us. I believe that this legislation, with the mandatory procedural safeguards and strong oversight, helps to clarify what is legal and proper for related investigations, while striking a balance between prioritizing our safety and upholding the individual rights guaranteed by our Constitution. In light of this, I voted with the majority of my colleagues to reauthorize expiring provisions of the USA PATRIOT Act.

Again, thank you for contacting me. I value your input. Please do not hesitate to contact me or my office regarding this or any other matter of concern to you.
Sincerely,
Mark Pryor
United States Senate

John Boozman sent me a paper copy of his response and it was written almost verbatim to Pryor’s. So do you think they are listening? And why does Mark Pryor vote with his colleagues and not the American People?
I feel like I got off of my ass and participated in Democracy and all I got was a bad taste left in my mouth.