The legislation: An amendment to extend the most abusive parts of the Patriot Act – without any reforms at all. These unconstitutional spying practices are almost never used in relation to cases of suspected terrorism, and even when they are used, the chances aren’t good that they result in actionable information.

In short, the Patriot Act isn’t doing much to actually protect Americans from terrorism. What the Patriot Act is accomplishing is the creation of a Big Brother system of federal government spying against its own citizens, leading Americans to always suspect that even their most private activities are being watched.

Such a state of continual fear of government espionage is inherently incompatible with the survival of democracy. That’s why this bumper sticker rallies the American people to the defense of liberty – to repeal the Patriot Act. We don’t need Big Brother to spy on our private lives.

If you oppose the Patriot Act, don’t vote for Martha Coakley.

In this oval bumper sticker, an Orwellian all-seeing eye is incorporated into the classic icon of Barack Obama’s presidential campaign. The message: we may have a new president who ran on hope and change, but under his new administration, Big Brother is Still Watching. The Patriot Act is still in effect. The Military Commissions Act is still in effect. The FISA Amendments Act is still in effect. Barack Obama has committed to continue using tools of warrantless surveillance in contravention of the Fourth Amendment to the United States Constitution.

The election is over. It doesn’t matter whether Barack Obama was on “your team,” or whether you campaigned as part of “his team.” As of his inauguration, he will be the principal executor of a surveillance state. As long as the president and the agents of the president are watching, it is incumbent upon defenders of liberty to watch back.