The USA Patriot Act received what some might consider to be a makeover.

And for what purpose?

Because the current act did not adequately protect Americans' civil liberties, and now politicians care enough to do something about it?

Perhaps.

Last week several Republicans and Democrats, who played key roles in the Patriot Act's December filibuster, reached a compromise just days after the act received its second five-week renewal. Because a compromise has been reached, both the House and Senate are expected to pass a more permanent Patriot Act this week that includes the three new provisions. Things are sure looking up for the "we're-afraid-of-being-unpatriotic-so-we'll-settle-for-less" fan club. The three provisions that purportedly address the nagging question of civil liberties in a post-Sept. 11 world include a variety of feel-good components that surely will make Americans sleep better at night.

If you are lucky enough to be suspected of terroristic activity, you would have the right to petition to remove a gag order but only after waiting a full year. And only, of course, if it is deemed that going public will not harm national security.

If you are subject to investigation and receive a subpoena known as a National Security Letter, you would no longer have to tell the FBI your attorney's name.

And finally, if you're one of those bookish fellows studying terrorism for a Ph.D or reading texts by Osama bin Laden to prepare to teach a college class about terrorism, you wouldn't get in trouble, at least in most cases. Well, as long as the library doesn't go beyond providing basic Internet access.

Thank goodness for that, because for a second it seemed as though terrorists intent upon building bombs and attacking the U.S. might consider using a library. What better way to indicate that the Patriot Act is here for the long haul than by making just enough minor changes to satisfy dissenters so that they shut up? In reality, it's easier to tack on three revisions, call them "progress" and congratulate one another on Capitol Hill for provisions that should have existed in the first place.

And why are we simply settling? Because that's what American democracy is all about.