--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: When the American people find out how…" description: "\"When the American people find out how their government has secretly interpreted the Patriot Act, they will be stunned and they will be angry.\" — Ron Wyden" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/471/ron-wyden-8512_american-people_when-the-american-people-find-out-how-th_2643282.jpg" --- # When the American people find out how their government has… ![“When the American people find out how their government has secretly interpreted the Patriot Act, they will be stunned and they will be angry.” quote by Ron Wyden](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/471/ron-wyden-8512_american-people_when-the-american-people-find-out-how-th_2643282.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/471/ron-wyden-8512_american-people_when-the-american-people-find-out-how-th_2643282.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/471/ron-wyden-8512_american-people_when-the-american-people-find-out-how-th_2643282.jpg) > “When the American people find out how their government has secretly interpreted the Patriot Act, they will be stunned and they will be angry.” [Ron Wyden](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ron-wyden/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Revealing hidden government actions erodes public trust and fuels anger. **In simple terms:** Secret policies cause public outrage. Key Takeaway Demand transparency and accountability. Themes government secrecy public trust patriot act citizen anger democratic oversight Mood urgent critical Type political activist When to use this quote - policy debate - activist campaigns - media reporting - civic education Key Concepts law politics civil liberties accountability transparency Questions to Reflect On - What mechanisms ensure government transparency? - How can citizens effectively voice anger? A Different Perspective Complex legal language can obscure issues. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [American people](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/american-people/) [Angry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/angry/) [Government](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/government/) [Patriot](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/patriot/) [Patriot act](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/patriot-act/) [People](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/people/) [Politics](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/politics/) ## Related quotes > [“I look up momentarily stunned, then angry. What the Hell is that dirtbag doing here?”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/annie-brewer/i-look-up-momentarily-stunned-then-angry-what-the-hell-is-that/) [Annie Brewer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/annie-brewer/) > [You’re too important to just … die.” He shakes his head. He won’t even look at me—his eyes keep shifting across my face, to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/veronica-roth/you-re-too-important-to-just-die-he-shakes-his-head-he-won-t-even/) [Veronica Roth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/veronica-roth/) > [By this means (fractional reserve banking) government may secretly and unobserved, confiscate the wealth of the people, and not one man in a million…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-maynard-keynes/by-this-means-fractional-reserve-banking-government-may-secretly-and/) [John Maynard Keynes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-maynard-keynes/) > [“By this means the government may secretly and unobserved, confiscate the wealth of the people, and not one man in a million will detect…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-maynard-keynes/by-this-means-the-government-may-secretly-and-unobserved-confiscate/) [John Maynard Keynes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-maynard-keynes/) > [The government's collection authority, under the Patriot Act, is basically limitless. They can get the medical records and financial records, gun purchase records. And…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ron-wyden/the-government-s-collection-authority-under-the-patriot-act-is/) [Ron Wyden](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ron-wyden/) > [Since 2001, the Patriot Act has provided the means to detect and disrupt terrorist threats against the U.S. Prior to enactment of the law,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/roger-wicker/since-2001-the-patriot-act-has-provided-the-means-to-detect-and/) [Roger Wicker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/roger-wicker/) > [Civil libertarians have raised concerns that some of the Patriot Act's provisions infringe on Constitutional rights. Those concerns are not supported by the facts.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/roger-wicker/civil-libertarians-have-raised-concerns-that-some-of-the-patriot-act/) [Roger Wicker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/roger-wicker/) > [The Patriot Act makes a mockery of the Sixth Amendment, which protects your right to a speedy and public trial, and your right to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-badnarik/the-patriot-act-makes-a-mockery-of-the-sixth-amendment-which-protects/) [Michael Badnarik](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-badnarik/) > [It is no response to assert that the Patriot Act has been useful; what you need to explain is how any particular safeguard would…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/julian-sanchez/it-is-no-response-to-assert-that-the-patriot-act-has-been-useful-what/) [Julian Sanchez](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/julian-sanchez/) > [The Patriot Act was used against me in total contradiction to its stated purpose. Or perhaps it was the most logical use of the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/susan-lindauer/the-patriot-act-was-used-against-me-in-total-contradiction-to-its/) Susan Lindauer > [Here at home, we need to do two fundamental things. Number one, we need to recognize that technology has moved on. The Patriot Act…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ted-cruz/here-at-home-we-need-to-do-two-fundamental-things-number-one-we-need/) [Ted Cruz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ted-cruz/) > [To be patriotic is to be able to question government policy in times of crisis. To be patriotic is to stand up for the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sami-al-arian/to-be-patriotic-is-to-be-able-to-question-government-policy-in-times/) [Sami Al-Arian](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sami-al-arian/) > [We have been through four and five generations of technology since the PATRIOT Act.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carly-fiorina/we-have-been-through-four-and-five-generations-of-technology-since/) [Carly Fiorina](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carly-fiorina/) > [We all deserve credit for this new surveillance state that we live in because we the people voted for the Patriot Act. Democrats and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-colbert/we-all-deserve-credit-for-this-new-surveillance-state-that-we-live-in/) [Stephen Colbert](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-colbert/) > [The Patriot Act is certainly a concern; all of those things are dangerous. I think more important than me preaching is that we as…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-clooney/the-patriot-act-is-certainly-a-concern-all-of-those-things-are/) [George Clooney](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-clooney/) ## More by Ron Wyden > [When the Veterans Affairs Department implemented a program to provide home-based health care to veterans with multiple chronic conditions - many of the system's…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ron-wyden/when-the-veterans-affairs-department-implemented-a-program-to-provide/) [Ron Wyden](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ron-wyden/) > [Police departments no longer have to pay overtime or divert resources from other projects to find out where an individual goes - all they…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ron-wyden/police-departments-no-longer-have-to-pay-overtime-or-divert-resources/) [Ron Wyden](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ron-wyden/) > [Even under the best of circumstances, the road back from war is difficult.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ron-wyden/even-under-the-best-of-circumstances-the-road-back-from-war-is/) [Ron Wyden](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ron-wyden/) > [Trade wars aren't started by countries appealing to respected, independent trade authorities. Rather, trade wars begin when one country decides to violate international trade…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ron-wyden/trade-wars-aren-t-started-by-countries-appealing-to-respected/) [Ron Wyden](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ron-wyden/) > [Trade wars arent started by countries appealing to respected, independent trade authorities. Rather, trade wars begin when one country decides to violate international trade…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ron-wyden/trade-wars-arent-started-by-countries-appealing-to-respected/) [Ron Wyden](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ron-wyden/) > [If China is helping its domestic industries charge an artificially low price for solar panels and other environmental goods, then China is violating international…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ron-wyden/if-china-is-helping-its-domestic-industries-charge-an-artificially/) [Ron Wyden](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ron-wyden/) > [With a host of proposals on the table and a President examining new ideas for health reform, we have an obligation to give real…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ron-wyden/with-a-host-of-proposals-on-the-table-and-a-president-examining-new/) [Ron Wyden](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ron-wyden/) > [I agree with just about everyone in the reform debate when they say 'If you like what you have, you should be able to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ron-wyden/i-agree-with-just-about-everyone-in-the-reform-debate-when-they-say/) [Ron Wyden](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ron-wyden/) > [If we are going to have a health care program that works for all Americans, we are going to have to get beyond the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ron-wyden/if-we-are-going-to-have-a-health-care-program-that-works-for-all/) [Ron Wyden](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ron-wyden/) > [With the loss of Free Choice Vouchers, hundreds of thousands of workers will now be forced to choose between their employers' unaffordable insurance or…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ron-wyden/with-the-loss-of-free-choice-vouchers-hundreds-of-thousands-of/) [Ron Wyden](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ron-wyden/) > [Part of what we're trying to do is lay out what really happened. For example, I've been trying to get across that the intelligence…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ron-wyden/part-of-what-we-re-trying-to-do-is-lay-out-what-really-happened-for/) [Ron Wyden](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ron-wyden/) > [I don't care who you love. If you love this country enough to risk your life for it, you shouldn't have to hide who…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ron-wyden/i-don-t-care-who-you-love-if-you-love-this-country-enough-to-risk/) [Ron Wyden](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ron-wyden/) > [How can it be, in a country as strong and rich as this one, that tens of thousands of Americans who need legal representation…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ron-wyden/how-can-it-be-in-a-country-as-strong-and-rich-as-this-one-that-tens/) [Ron Wyden](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ron-wyden/) > [The government's collection authority, under the Patriot Act, is basically limitless. They can get the medical records and financial records, gun purchase records. And…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ron-wyden/the-government-s-collection-authority-under-the-patriot-act-is/) [Ron Wyden](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ron-wyden/) > [Pay-for-procedure or fee-for-service reimbursement rewards doctors and hospitals for volume - not keeping patients healthy or being efficiency. Pay-for-Performance is clearly one tool that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ron-wyden/pay-for-procedure-or-fee-for-service-reimbursement-rewards-doctors/) [Ron Wyden](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ron-wyden/) [Explore all 80 Ron Wyden quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ron-wyden/) ## More American people quotes > [America is a democracy and has no Hitler, but I am afraid for her future; there are hard times ahead for the American people,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/albert-einstein/america-is-a-democracy-and-has-no-hitler-but-i-am-afraid-for-her/) [Albert Einstein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/albert-einstein/) > [Believing with you that religion is a matter which lies solely between man and his God, that he owes account to none other for…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-jefferson/believing-with-you-that-religion-is-a-matter-which-lies-solely/) [Thomas Jefferson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-jefferson/) > [For as much as government can do and must do, it is ultimately the faith and determination of the American people upon which this…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/for-as-much-as-government-can-do-and-must-do-it-is-ultimately-the/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Given a choice between two bald political candidates, the American people will vote for the less bald of the two.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/victor-gold/given-a-choice-between-two-bald-political-candidates-the-american/) Victor Gold > [When the American people saw the LA riots and crowds of Blacks cheering O.J. Simpson (who was acquitted by the almost all Black jury),…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-duke/when-the-american-people-saw-the-la-riots-and-crowds-of-blacks/) [David Duke](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-duke/) > [In any event, it is one thing to assert, then or now, that the Iraq war was ill-advised. It is quite another to make…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/laurence-silberman/in-any-event-it-is-one-thing-to-assert-then-or-now-that-the-iraq-war/) [Laurence Silberman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/laurence-silberman/) > [Well look, CIA is an agency that has to collect intelligence, do operations. We have to take risks and it's important that we take…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leon-panetta/well-look-cia-is-an-agency-that-has-to-collect-intelligence-do/) [Leon Panetta](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leon-panetta/) > [I don't know a politician who enjoys fundraising. The system is such that the American people have lost faith.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-mccain/i-don-t-know-a-politician-who-enjoys-fundraising-the-system-is-such/) [John McCain](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-mccain/) > [Probably the greatest single obstacle to the progress and happiness of the American people lies in the willingness of so many men to invest…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-d-rockefeller/probably-the-greatest-single-obstacle-to-the-progress-and-happiness/) [John D. 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