Archangel_Azazel's Journal: The Patriot Act II? Wasn't one enough?

According to this article from the New York Times, "Mr. Bush is seeking broad new authority to allow federal agents -- without the approval of a judge or even a federal prosecutor -- to demand private records and compel testimony." This creeps me out to no end. I'm sure that everyone has seen what power does in the hands of those that don't deserve it. Not only that, but the more I look at the constitution, the more I realize that a lot of what was put in there as checks-and-balances was put in for a *REASON*...