Just a reminder that if you're upset about this, politics is an active process. I'm going to look up my senator's votes right now and send them an email if they were one of the nay votes.
Dear Representative $NAY_VOTER,
I'm writing you to express my disappointment in your recent vote on May 13 to reject Wyden amendment no. 1583. This amendment would have required law enforcement agencies to obtain a warrant before accessing American's web browsing data. Despite bipartisan support, the amendment failed to garner the required 3/5 majority by only one vote.
The controversial language of section 215 of the Patriot Act provides the government with broad powers to collect information related to federal investigations. Unfortunately, that power extends to the warrant-less collection of American's private information. This even includes innocent and law-abiding citizens who's only relation to an investigation is that their records are considered "relevant" in some manner.
Privacy reform is important now more than ever with the increasing role of technology in our daily lives. Please give me your support in creating meaningful oversight for our country's surveillance programs.
Sincerely,
Djaque
[1] https://www.senate.gov/legislative/LIS/roll_call_lists/roll_...
For once, I don't have to be embarrassed about Duckworth.
Years ago, when the Slashdot/Reddit crowd got up in arms about some other terrible law, I actually took the time to look up my Senators' numbers, and call their offices. The aides I talked to acted like I was an insurance telemarketer, and wouldn't/couldn't even tell me their positions on the bill. Needless to say, I became disillusioned with the process.
I've heard a lot of people say that "if enough people bug them," but it's simply not true. Unless you're a campaign donor, and writing checks large enough to stick out from the crowd, you literally don't exist in the US law-making process. I'm sorry, but you just don't.