McCarthyism vs USA PATRIOT Act

Under this Act and other Legislations, noncitizens are being deported or detained indefinitely without judicial appeal. .
             McCarthyism and USA PATRIOT Act both sprang from fear. They both provided the US government with a broader power to investigate and persecute the United States citizens and aliens. They both challenged the Bill of Rights. After the USA PATRIOT Act has been signed into law the term "terrorism" has taken on the same kind of characteristics as the term "communism" did in 1950s.
             A few lessons can be learned from "the McCarthy era". One, the laws and the government agencies, intended to protect the Unites States and its citizens, were turned to largely political purposes and away from the real needs of national security. Second, no matter how much American people were in fear of Communism, they were more afraid of loosing their freedoms and liberties. .
             Anti-Communist paranoia had existed in the United States since after the Russian Revolution in 1918. Earlier "red hunts" didn't go beyond an attempt at curtailing the activities of radical political activists. But the Cold War, which followed immediately after the World War II, heightened anti-Communist anxieties. Senator McCarthy exploited those fears for his own political gains. Before 1950 McCarthy was by no means a distinguished legislator, but his accusations against prominent Democratic politicians had gained him loyal support from many Republicans and a reelection in 1952. The initial public response to McCarthy's baseless information was overwhelmingly supportive. Some believed that he was trying to protect the country from the Communists" infiltration and to make it safe for democracy. .
             The USA PATRIOT Act was rushed into law by the Bush Administration as a retroactive act to a direct terrorist attack. The horrific events of 9/11 planted fears in American people beyond their understanding. If during McCarthyism people were scared that the Communism will take root in the government, now people are scared that their lives are in danger, and only quick and decisive approach can protect them from terrorism.