but during both of them, we had declared war, and normal civil liberties were not in effect. During WW2, in particular, there was massive government censorship and I'd bet wiretaps on every suspected enemy sympathizer with or without a warrent. But that was wartime.

Korea, Vietnam, Gulf War, this so-called war on terrorism - there isn't a state of war in effect. If you want extraordinary government powers, declare war, don't pass laws that will stick to the books almost forever. (Yeah, yeah, I know about the sunset clauses on some provisions. I do wonder if the sun will really set on them.)