Anytime a government is unified in something, like it has been here, you should be highly skeptical. Politicians make calls for “unity” all the time and of course they do as everyone agreeing with them makes exercising power that much easier. The main objectives of any political elite/party in any form of government throughout all of history are to increase their power and to remain there. Division doesn’t mean dysfunction.

The Patriot Act was roundly supported and of course it was - it increases the political classes power across the board, legitimizing the increase for “safety”.