But I read the whole article and I still don't actually know what this state of emergency is. Does just having the USA PATRIOT Act mean that we're in a state of emergency? If so, is that something the bill actually says, or you interpreting that the bill is so extreme that it only makes sense in a state of emergency? Or are there provisions in it that are only ok if someone declares that we're in a state of emergency, and we've been in one ever since it passed? (Which still wouldn't be 14 years. If that's the case, then you don't know that someone won't declare that we're not in that state of emergency before the bill expires)

Anyway, if the fact that I read your title means that I am more confused after reading the article than I would have been with the normal title, it is a bad title that does not fit the article.

(all the you's are to the submitter)

Edit: Also, the title is false. It hasn't actually been extended yet, it's just heading in that direction.

You are correct to be confused about what "emergency".

That's the point, the Patriot Act specifically invented one so they could increase domestic spying by several orders of magnitude and zap away rights - all without warrants. It's the only way they could have such crazy anti-constitutional powers.

Since people can still shop at the mall while we are at war, people don't realize we are in a declared state of emergency.

People often forget that PATRIOT is an acronym and implies a declared emergency (against "terrorism"). It doesn't actually mean you are only a "patriot" if you support the bill but was designed to feel that way.