Why did the terror alert level just go up?is it cause the Patriot Act was being voted on?and fear will?

when i saw that homeland security upped the terror level, i suspect something. now i think its because the house was voting on the Patriot Act. which allows the FBI to eavesdrop on phone conversations, and look at medical and business records of anyone on their list, i think. fear of terror will cause us to willingly give up our privacy to the govrnmet. i think that homeland security is a sham, and anytime terror alert goes up, you need to be wary of what they are manipulatin you to do. agree or not?