OP - Great post.

Sort of suggests that the Patriot Act might have been a solution designed well in advance of the problem it was designed to solve.

Assuming for a minute that problem that gave rise to the Patriot Act was in fact terrorism, what is patriotic about this whole mess? Americans were needlessly killed to facilitate the elimination of our rights to privacy, etc.

Also, Patriots Day celebrates a key battle that americans supposedly won over the Brits in the American Revolution. Identifying an act of "terrorism" that has reduced our freedom as "Patriot", while a key battle that helped established our freedom is "Patriots", is insulting and not logical.