Ah, well... I don't know if it's so much about the Patriot Act... The authorities aren't the ones responsible for invading his privacy... His grandparents are the ones to blame there, which is the huge shocker to me... However, the legal system's handling of this whole situation IS pretty ridiculous. Why can't it just be like it was in the 60's and 70's and when a cop pulled you over for smokin pot in the car, he'd let you go if you gave him a hit (true story, believe it or not)? I'm not saying we should all be allowed to get away with our crimes; it's just that no one trusts anyone else these days... It's really kinda sad...

What happened, America? Where's the love?
 

I think there used to be a greater sense of community. Communities used to consist of people living in small, tight-knit area. They probably depended on each other more for news and entertainment (seeing as there were only three primary networks on TV through the 60s). I'm not bashing media or technology, but I feel that it has served to make us less interdependent and more skeptical (I mean...really...when was the last time you heard something GOOD on the news?). I think the extreme trust existed mostly in areas where things weren't so populated...unlike now where even "small town America" can feel the effects of a sprawling metropolis.
 

Ok, so this comment's a little late... but Clark... before you go bashing liberals, remember that it is our conservative President who is primarily responsible for instilling fear in the populous about terrorism these days, which is why stories like this happen. However, liberals are guilty of using fear, too... look at the draft incident which was started by a Democrat... but be careful when you go making comments about liberals when your group is just as guilty. In my opinion, neither is better than the other, right now. Just be careful of how you word things, please.