The Patriot Act is a whipping boy for the left, so the MSM plays up its perceived shortcomings big time.  CPS is a pet of the left, so the MSM is silent on it.  I doubt the host even knew what you were talking about, but congratulations on getting on and making your point.

Actually, the host is borderline Libertarian. He seemed responsive to my point (I'm trying to work my way up to a guest spot on the show).

Gid, I have a book that I'm reading that I'd like to pass on to you when I'm done.  It's fiction, but it's based on fact.  It's called 'Anonymous Tip' and I'll leave you to guess what it's about.

If you can send me your mailing address, I can send it to you when I'm done.

Is it the one by Michael Farris? (I hunted it down on Amazon.com).

And, reading it, do you see why I've taken such a hardline stance?

Is it the one by Michael Farris? (I hunted it down on Amazon.com). And, reading it, do you see why I've taken such a hardline stance?

Yes, and yes.  I see why you did what you did.  At the same time, I think you can see why I did what I did.  I stood mmy grounds on a couple of things - they told me they wanted to 'interview' my kids and I refused to let them.  I told them that unless they had a court order, they could forget it.  Then the military version of DSS stepped in, and I told them that I wasn't active duty so they couldn't tell me what to do either.  I would provide them access to my children on the condition that I was present during the interview, and that if I felt they were pressuring the kids in any way, I'd leave. 

They sat down with the kids, asked them a few questions, and then we left.

That was the end of that.  As far as I know, anyway.  I haven't heard anything since, and we've moved, so....

At the same time, I think you can see why I did what I did.

Absolutely. I believe that every individual should decide for themselves what course of action to take. But they should do so knowing the facts. In our case, it was a basic wager. If the workers in our case were good, we would be OK whether we let them in or stood and fought. If we stood and fought, they would understand it, as long as we did so respectfully, and if we let them in, they wouldn't abuse their power. The problem comes when you consider what would happen if they weren't a good system--let them in and you've immediately signed away any basis for appeal because the search was voluntary.

Fortunately, the workers involved seem to be pretty decent here. They had no objection to my taping our meetings, no objection to my directive that I be able to observe this particular interview and obtain a complete audiotape...so far, so good. And my tapes are a handy safeguard in case they AREN'T decent.