Agreed. However, it's times like this when we have to be most vigilant about that happening. It's all too easy for legislators and their constituents to get swept up in the moment, passing "new" laws and regulations because no one would dare disagree with them today, this week, or this month. But in a year or two...

As just one example, did anyone hear Ashcroft (or was it Cheney?) yesterday? He called for new wiretapping laws designed to make it easier to surveil suspected terrorists. If a bill so doing was sent to Capitol Hill today, do you think any member of congress would disagree with him? New FAA security measures. or other laws that can be (note: I said "can be," not "are") interpreted as restrictions on civil liberties are no different, at least in the process of their proposal and/or adoption during times like this.

Now, implementation of those laws and regulations is debatable, but that's the point--we must debate them, not simply pass them in light of recent events. There's a reason the laws and regulations some are now seeking to overturn were implemented in the first place, and we shouldn't lose sight of that.

[This message has been edited by SuperSlug (edited 09-17-2001).]