General Discussion

Blanks

(4,835 posts)

126. No.

Sat Aug 3, 2013, 09:23 AM

Aug 2013

If the budget is cut, the private sector doesn't just start doing it. It has to be profitable.

The private sector gets its money from the government on matters of national security, they don't take it upon themselves to perform surveillance (or any other service) unless its somehow profitable and if there is no money in their budget, it isn't going to be profitable.

Cutting the budget would be all that is necessary to get the government to stop 'illegal government spying'.

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Hell, I might as well say it, I used to work for the NSA [View all] 1-Old-Man Aug 2013 OP

I know exactly what you mean. BellaKos Aug 2013 #1

as I told my wife 1-Old-Man Aug 2013 #10

Well, BellaKos Aug 2013 #19

Did you somehow miss this? This was just the FIRST try: matthews Aug 2013 #67

James Bamford once said NSA = No Such Agency n/t eridani Aug 2013 #110

They're working on it Hydra Aug 2013 #22

Holy mudpie mackeral. reusrename Aug 2013 #152

Perfect example of that handy black budget: dixiegrrrrl Aug 2013 #25

I agree that budgets must... Delver Rootnose Aug 2013 #115

No. Blanks Aug 2013 #126

HA! Angelonthesidelines Aug 2013 #144

"We have let the agency grow to monstrous capability." That is the problem exactly. liberal_at_heart Aug 2013 #2

these days i call it nadinbrzezinski Aug 2013 #3

Yep, voting is just a Potemkin village. nt awoke_in_2003 Aug 2013 #18

Thank you for speaking up. K&R. SaveOurDemocracy Aug 2013 #4

Thank you for speaking up. n/t Ms. Toad Aug 2013 #5

I agree. dotymed Aug 2013 #6

I appreciate the risk you have taken mick063 Aug 2013 #7

I did not work for the NSA AverageMe Aug 2013 #118

Thank You For Sharing - I Worked There As Well - Agree Completely cantbeserious Aug 2013 #8

I don't see any ex-NSA employees defending the org wtmusic Aug 2013 #11

Wanda Sykes! rusty fender Aug 2013 #116

Wow. wtmusic Aug 2013 #133

I think that she basically denied that the NSA is doing anything illegal rusty fender Aug 2013 #146

Recommend! KoKo Aug 2013 #9

knr Th1onein Aug 2013 #12

Thank you for speaking up. AtheistCrusader Aug 2013 #13

This message was self-deleted by its author Maedhros Aug 2013 #14

Thanks so much for relating your informed opinion cali Aug 2013 #15

I was assigned there for 3 years when I was in the Air Force. SeattleVet Aug 2013 #16

I also agree ..... oldhippie Aug 2013 #17

Yes, fear of "Warren Tara." BellaKos Aug 2013 #26

They built an entire city out in the middle of nowhere... Blanks Aug 2013 #129

They fear us (the ones who are trying to change things). reusrename Aug 2013 #141

White men in black suits Go Vols Aug 2013 #49

Thanks to the bushes Dont call me Shirley Aug 2013 #70

The Bushes are out Vanje Aug 2013 #92

The Bushes took us there Vanje Aug 2013 #93

Exactly. n/t Raksha Aug 2013 #100

Do you think this fear of terrorists was cultivated by the government? Enthusiast Aug 2013 #117

Thanks for saying that... RevStPatrick Aug 2013 #20

Now, see, chervilant Aug 2013 #124

I worked for them too . . FairWinds Aug 2013 #21

So did I, except I worked AT the NSA while in the USAF. MineralMan Aug 2013 #23

We do know what they are up to today, thanks to the several Whistle Blowers who sabrina 1 Aug 2013 #137

No. You THINK you know what they are doing. MineralMan Aug 2013 #156

Elegant and straightforward post Hydra Aug 2013 #24

Thank you. Sure it's too big, but that train left the station decades ago. ucrdem Aug 2013 #27

There is no more pressing problem than a police state. reusrename Aug 2013 #33

Agree. Thank you. JDPriestly Aug 2013 #36

There's a connection, but it's not what you think it is. ucrdem Aug 2013 #38

I'm curious what a police state would look like. reusrename Aug 2013 #57

Snowden mimi85 Aug 2013 #112

Look over THERE. Look at what RUSSIA is doing! MattSh Aug 2013 #114

OMG!! chervilant Aug 2013 #125

Do you work for the NSA too? Vanje Aug 2013 #95

Excellent sikofit3 Aug 2013 #120

Thank you. I know we are correct but we keep getting shouted down. reusrename Aug 2013 #138

Voting rihgts and election transparency are meaningless as is a budget JDPriestly Aug 2013 #41

How do you think George Deukmejian became governor of CA in 1983? ucrdem Aug 2013 #45

Obama will not be running in 2016. JDPriestly Aug 2013 #52

Yes we need a fresh face & a fresh agenda marions ghost Aug 2013 #78

The only thing that gives me any hope at all Vanje Aug 2013 #96

I am afraid the PTB will run Clinton against Christie. At best you'll get four rhett o rick Aug 2013 #140

And remember this program started under a bush Dont call me Shirley Aug 2013 #71

Yes. Vanje Aug 2013 #97

And the new Admin liked it so well they decided to keep it. rhett o rick Aug 2013 #142

The Freedom of Information Act fixed a lot of such problems with our government Kolesar Aug 2013 #51

"Decades ago"? Didn't you say somewhere that you are 25? nt Waiting For Everyman Aug 2013 #55

Unbelievable. Vanje Aug 2013 #94

Calling Snowden "Snowball" reflects on your credibility. But I guess that train already left the rhett o rick Aug 2013 #139

most here are capable of dealing with both NSA spying and other issues such as budget nashville_brook Aug 2013 #149

I'm glad to have your experience added to the mix. reusrename Aug 2013 #28

I see that there are quite a few here who get the picture. n/t BellaKos Aug 2013 #31

It is not too late marions ghost Aug 2013 #79

20 years ahead Hydra Aug 2013 #163

50 years later and you still get briefings as to exactly what the NSA is doing today? tridim Aug 2013 #29

What a peculiarly silly thing to say. Of course not. 1-Old-Man Aug 2013 #37

Why is it silly? tridim Aug 2013 #43

Silly because if you had read the posting with any comprehension you'd have seen ... 1-Old-Man Aug 2013 #44

Did you read the OP? Even those of us who have NEVER worked at the NSA nadinbrzezinski Aug 2013 #62

EVERYTHING is "far more sophisticated" than it was 50 years ago. tridim Aug 2013 #76

Because I researched the programs nadinbrzezinski Aug 2013 #82

"It can be turned into something you will recognized in a matter of hours." FSogol Aug 2013 #91

I'm asking why you accept the OP's claim as fact. tridim Aug 2013 #121

Let's examine the claims shall we? nadinbrzezinski Aug 2013 #135

So what, exactly, is he to prove? mick063 Aug 2013 #101

that awkward moment when your brain says -->> "No one thinks that." and, you're not on a RW site. nashville_brook Aug 2013 #81

lerp - like derp, only different reusrename Aug 2013 #134

love it -- ! nashville_brook Aug 2013 #136

Crikey, that was quick! reusrename Aug 2013 #157

clearly, Lerp's time has come. nashville_brook Aug 2013 #160

O, good grief! chervilant Aug 2013 #127

So let's guess your point! Since the phones have changed the NSA wouldnt spy on us. rhett o rick Aug 2013 #143

My point is the OP doesn't know anything more than anyone else about the NSA today. tridim Aug 2013 #155

I am disappointed that you believe it's necessary to inform us of this. rhett o rick Aug 2013 #159

K&R. Thank you for speaking out. think Aug 2013 #30

A guy says "Have you heard... " NSA Employee "Yes". jtuck004 Aug 2013 #32

In what way exactly will a passage of "restrictive laws" have any effect. Clapper lied to the Senate AnotherMcIntosh Aug 2013 #34

Chilling ... Isn't it? wavesofeuphoria Aug 2013 #63

K&R. Thanks. It isn't about this president or that. JDPriestly Aug 2013 #35

It's about this president, make no mistake. ucrdem Aug 2013 #39

Really!? This started under bush. Dont call me Shirley Aug 2013 #72

Obama Vanje Aug 2013 #98

They arent as narrow focused as you. Why dont you just post, "It isnt Obama's fault." nm rhett o rick Aug 2013 #145

Defending the Constitution is all Manning and Snowden are doing. Unlike those that persecute them. grahamhgreen Aug 2013 #40

K&R MotherPetrie Aug 2013 #42

It's way beyond any particular president at this point, isn't it? Hekate Aug 2013 #46

Did you notice Pres. Carter's TheJames Aug 2013 #86

Thanks for sharing your experience nt steve2470 Aug 2013 #47

Here's my question then. SheilaT Aug 2013 #48

Sadly the answer is quite obvious. For one reason or another someone wanted it to go forward. Ford_Prefect Aug 2013 #64

K & R !!! WillyT Aug 2013 #50

Kicked and recommended. Uncle Joe Aug 2013 #53

Thank you .... sabrina 1 Aug 2013 #54

K&R Very few people have any idea just how far this kind of thing goes. Egalitarian Thug Aug 2013 #56

Dial it back? DeSwiss Aug 2013 #58

One old man to another. sgtbenobo Aug 2013 #59

A sincere thank you for this post! k&r n/t markpkessinger Aug 2013 #60

You are legion-- which gives me hope carolinayellowdog Aug 2013 #61

Read my sig line! n-t Logical Aug 2013 #65

Thank you so very much. Coming from one who knows the truth and has actually matthews Aug 2013 #66

This message was self-deleted by its author felix_numinous Aug 2013 #68

The ethics of "Jurassic Park".... Spitfire of ATJ Aug 2013 #69

Until otherwise proven, I'm convinced Greenwald is dangerous. SleeplessinSoCal Aug 2013 #73

Um. Vanje Aug 2013 #99

uh no. But Libertarians are. SleeplessinSoCal Aug 2013 #111

They can't monitor messengers with Gman Aug 2013 #74

Would that be toilet paper? Auntie Bush Aug 2013 #83

I believe rice paper is preferred. Gman Aug 2013 #87

Frank Church warned us about the implications of using NSA technology on Americans in 1976. Octafish Aug 2013 #75

Roe vs Wade was about privacy, and that is at the alfredo Aug 2013 #107

that's exactly what Frank Church said so long ago grasswire Aug 2013 #77

Thank you for these words of wisdom and experience marions ghost Aug 2013 #80

In the early 1970's I toured a phone company cable landing and briefly listened to an overseas call. Piedras Aug 2013 #84

Bravo to you..and to Snowden and Greenwald informing the world about the NSA. K&R Tierra_y_Libertad Aug 2013 #85

Ok? Grateful for Hope Aug 2013 #88

Thank you, Old-Man. nt Mnemosyne Aug 2013 #89

Well, you sent chills down my back, sir. Kablooie Aug 2013 #90

K & R - thank you for speaking up. n/t Raksha Aug 2013 #102

That day has already passed by. Amonester Aug 2013 #103

If we act, we will have to act with civil disobedience... MrMickeysMom Aug 2013 #104

As long as Money will keep Ruling politics ^^^ Amonester Aug 2013 #105

I worked for the ASA in the sixties. Eritrea. alfredo Aug 2013 #106

Thanks for starting this thread - you've already inspired some others to speak out too. nt bananas Aug 2013 #108

An excellent post. n/t DirkGently Aug 2013 #109

Kicked and Recommended. Enthusiast Aug 2013 #113

I was Army Security Agency. N_E_1 for Tennis Aug 2013 #119

"We have a very rare opportunity taking place right now to look into that Agency's operations." chimpymustgo Aug 2013 #122

well, considering that he encryption standards that exist today ProdigalJunkMail Aug 2013 #123

so glad the widespread us of encryption is putting the NSA out of business nashville_brook Aug 2013 #148

It is stored data though mick063 Aug 2013 #150

The NSA already has a backdoor into telecom encryption. reusrename Aug 2013 #153

K&R n/t myrna minx Aug 2013 #128

thank you heaven05 Aug 2013 #130

HAL 9000 has morphed into the NSA of today. nt donco Aug 2013 #131

I wouldn't defend Snowdon. BAPhill Aug 2013 #132

Of course you wouldnt. You can only see the little picture. Snowden got a parking ticket and must rhett o rick Aug 2013 #147

It Was Premeditated BAPhill Aug 2013 #158

So was the Boston Tea Party. Thank Dog our founders didnt have such narrow focus. rhett o rick Aug 2013 #161

Yes, it is a crime. and so is what the NSA is doing. His crime is small, theirs is enormous. 1-Old-Man Aug 2013 #162

The crime was committed by the Director of National Security. reusrename Aug 2013 #151

I met someone who interviewed for them. roamer65 Aug 2013 #154