Maybe it's because I've held a Top Secret security clearance once...

[JDPriestly]

152. If the program is not as awful as our worst suspicions, then the

government should tell us precisely how it works. There is some talk about having a national discussion. We need to know a lot more detail about what it is we are supposed to discuss. The secrecy about the program makes intelligent discussion difficult.

But to me, if the government is creating a permanent database of all of our calls, it will have the ability to call that information forward in any situation in which we do not comply with its wishes. On top of this, the government is claiming the authority to imprison us in violation of our right to a fair trial and to confront the witnesses against us and to have counsel.

These are all violations of the Constitution. And this program makes all those other violations of the Constitution far more menacing for future generations. On top of it all, the Supreme Court has ruled that if you are brought in for questioning the government has the right to take your DNA. There can be a million bogus excuses for arresting someone. Not everyone who is arrested is charged. But now the government has the right to take your DNA just because you, let's say participated in some sort of demonstration and were arrested.

This is just one of a number assaults on our rights.