EDITORIAL
Another reason to bury the Patriot Act

The more we learn about the USA Patriot Act, the spookier it gets. The latest provision shaking our sense of privacy and hampering the flow of commerce is one that requires financial institutions to monitor their customers' spending habits and report "suspicious transactions" in case law enforcement is interested.

Businesses that fail to comply with these demands face criminal charges or civil penalties.

This is not entirely new, of course. Banks are already required to report large cash transactions.

But the troubling thing is the ongoing effort to turn ordinary citizens into snoops.

What qualifies those of us who are not trained criminal investigators to determine what is and what isn't a suspicious financial transaction? And what is or isn't suspicious reading or video material?

Moreover, how do we prevent citizens from using these snooping and snitching powers for retribution? And what is the cost for businesses to carry the extra burden of spying for the federal government?

While we recognize the need to be ever-vigilant about terrorism, including its financing, we do not want to end up with a society where spying, secret evidence and detainment without probable cause is the norm. Not only is it anathema to democracy, but it's bad for business.

In light of these concerns, we urge members of Congress to seriously review the Patriot Act and its consequences before even thinking about renewing the law next year. There is an appropriate balance between security and liberty. We haven't found it yet.