Without comment, a comment from Techdirt: "The security theater is ridiculous"

[TM99]

56. I have studied history.

I don't require a lecture on the value of intelligence gathering.

This is beyond intelligence gathering. It is the wholesale collection of all types of data on private US citizens not involved or even suspected of 'aiding the enemy during a time of war'.

So it is hyperbole now then to ask a rational question of those, like yourself, who support the current NSA programs, what exactly has it produced of tangible value? The 'sources and methods' have now been revealed, for good or ill, by Snowden and others. So as I have said before, the cat is already out of the bag, the bird has flown the coop, etc.

If I am being asked to sacrifice privacy for security, yes, as a citizen of this country, I would like to know what exact security I am being provided. You may be more trusting, and that is certainly your prerogative. But to suggest that all who disagree with you are being hyperbolic, don't understand meaningful intelligence versus wholesale surveillance, etc., is bullshit. You are smart enough obviously to know that.

So yet again, I have a non-answer to my simple question. Thank you for your time this morning.