[0xbadc0de5]

To me, the turning point was the Patriot Act of the early 2000's. Everything we see today is downstream from that.

[_DeadFred_]

It's just a temporary measure, and to make sure/put peoples' minds at ease it has a sunset date of 2005 written into it.

[jeisc]

even if they rescinded it now it wouldn't change anything with the present administration

[distracted_boy]

Agreed. And if there is any doubt, look no further than the Snowden docs.