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In reply to the discussion: State Department Brief Today on Snowden. Unbelievable [View all]JDPriestly
(57,936 posts)of his constitutional right to free speech.
All it took was one word: "Yes." Whereas the administration spokeswoman answered with a word salad that meant nothing. "Yes." They are depriving Edward Snowden of his right to free speech, and if they want to, they may deprive him not only of his right to free speech but of his life. And all for speaking out about the government's violation of our constitutional rights.
And the real unspoken question was, "Are you depriving the press of the right inherent in the constitutional right to a free press by spying on our contacts with our sources?" And the only answer to that question is also "Yes."
In fact, the answer to the second question was given, perhaps correctly if you can trust the administration, when the government stated that the press will not be indicted as a co-conspirator in cases of leaks.
But, now the government is admitting to what I have said all along. The real point in this eavesdropping is to be able to propgandize us more effectively.
http://www.democraticunderground.com/1014537996
That is the point in collecting the metadata. The government can now direct its propaganda to the leaders of our social networks. The point in collecting the metadata is not to know what we are saying but who we are saying it to and who is talking to us. With that information, they can tailor their propaganda to us. Today government propaganda dissemination in our society is officially legal.
1984 is officially here.