Snowden helps fund DU with libertarian money!

[Savannahmann]

31. I wonder if our side has considered what is happening.

Our great fear is that Rand Paul will get the Nomination, or the Presidency. By trying to deny, minimize, or justify the increasingly unpopular surveillance programs, we increase the probability that it will happen.

Look at it. Think it through, don't just blindly march to the steps of the Authoritarians. Here's the scenario as I see it, a scenario that is far too possible. The revelations keep coming, remember Greenwald and others already have the information, the arrest of Snowden won't stop it now. Even if you toss him in the darkest hole of the blackest prison site, the revelations can't be stopped. Now, we assume that everyone will stay loyal, all those who are in the know, will stay loyal. We are gambling on that. Not most of them, all of them.

All it takes for this to continue is one more to decide that he/she has had enough. One more who gets nervous, afraid that they could be blamed. One more who has a conscience, who looks in the mirror and doesn't like what they see. One more who's child looks up and says "You don't do that do you Daddy?" At this point, the chances of one more, are pretty high. It may be a one in a million chance, but there are that many people with Top Secret Clearances, and again, it will only take one more to release even more information than Snowden of Booz Allen had access to.

The Libertarians flood the Republican primaries, pushing Rand Paul to the forefront. Then privacy rights activists look at our side, and we're stubbornly insisting all is well. Imagine that, we are defending the existence of an authoritarian state while the RW is pushing for less Government spying. Who do we nominate? Hillary is an early favorite, but will she come out in favor of, or opposed to the spying? History says in favor of.

Then the nation is left with a choice. A Presidential Candidate in favor of the Government spying on us, or a Presidential Candidate who is opposed to the new McCarthyism. Rand Paul could win that argument, and the election. Some will say that this is impossible. Some will claim that this is exactly what I want. Both are wrong, those who decry me as a Libertarian tool couldn't be further from the truth if they stood on the opposite side of the planet from it. I see where we are headed, and I am gravely concerned. I see Democrats defending the surveillance state and I am deeply ashamed. I hope we wake before it is too late. Before we chase this ideal down the rabbit hole. Because it is almost too late. It is nearly too late for us to change. From here, there are few paths to victory, but the longer we wait, the more difficult those paths become to navigate.