General Discussion

treestar

(82,383 posts)

187. Wrong.

Sat Nov 16, 2013, 11:34 AM

Nov 2013

What can the government even do with that information? If you had any familiarity with it, you would know it couldn't track all that to save its existence.

I'm not anti-government, but it simply does not have time/manpower/efficiency to track ordinary people in any fashion. It's lucky it gets taxes out of them. The IRS is far more intrusive and knows much more about us ordinary people than any other agency. The CIA can't even do anything with that information.

At bottom of all this hysteria is, why bother? Why would the government even need to do this? What advantage could it possibly gain?

Free enterprise is far more intrusive - at least they have reasons in wanting to know what ads to pitch to you. Thus they invest in it and can tell what ads to put up based on your browsing. But the government just doesn't have the budget for it.

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Highlight:

Edward Snowden Is Almost Broke [View all] struggle4progress Nov 2013 OP

... SidDithers Nov 2013 #1

Ah, always the patriot, Sid. R. Daneel Olivaw Nov 2013 #5

Yes. An unnecessary snipe, but a predictable one. closeupready Nov 2013 #15

seriously??? VanillaRhapsody Nov 2013 #56

I'd even settle for a handsome prophet. Whisp Nov 2013 #75

LOL! randome Nov 2013 #85

I thought you all implied he had sold the info and prob turned a fine profit. nt Mojorabbit Nov 2013 #126

GG is apparently the one that "profited"! VanillaRhapsody Nov 2013 #143

Seriously...I could use the $. n/t Chan790 Nov 2013 #176

Are you super serious? Sheepshank Nov 2013 #104

They aren't spying on us treestar Nov 2013 #128

OK R. Daneel Olivaw Nov 2013 #151

The laughing emoticon is better suited to treestar Nov 2013 #163

The bury your head in the sand emoticon R. Daneel Olivaw Nov 2013 #165

Actually, what they are doing is much more serious. ronnie624 Nov 2013 #174

All they have is telephone numbers treestar Nov 2013 #181

"Anyone who is ordinary and not in any leadership position can't even be harmed by it." ronnie624 Nov 2013 #185

Wrong. treestar Nov 2013 #187

... rug Nov 2013 #12

. Laelth Nov 2013 #23

The US government is willing to give him a lifetime of free housing and meals hack89 Nov 2013 #2

!!! Tarheel_Dem Nov 2013 #3

Heh. TwilightGardener Nov 2013 #4

& cable tv. Historic NY Nov 2013 #10

True and funny nt Progressive dog Nov 2013 #21

DUzy. n/t Laelth Nov 2013 #37

+1 uponit7771 Nov 2013 #48

ha! Whisp Nov 2013 #106

true dat! flamingdem Nov 2013 #114

DUzy! riqster Nov 2013 #154

. sagat Nov 2013 #155

If he'd only spilled the beans to someone on the Senate Intel Committee, like say, his hero, MADem Nov 2013 #178

I remember a lot of gloating that the Russians had given him a job treestar Nov 2013 #182

Nope, ten years at most treestar Nov 2013 #183

Enough to get him back on his feet hack89 Nov 2013 #188

I wonder who would hire him treestar Nov 2013 #189

Do we have a jobs wanted forum on DU? hack89 Nov 2013 #191

At this point he may not have to work treestar Nov 2013 #192

looks like they are looking to get donations JI7 Nov 2013 #6

That was my first thought as well. Get your pocket books open of you love freedom! BenzoDia Nov 2013 #7

In fact I believe that struggle4progress is planning a car wash to raise money!! grantcart Nov 2013 #14

... LAGC Nov 2013 #19

Well, that news should make some people he ZombieHorde Nov 2013 #8

To damn true Katashi_itto Nov 2013 #13

I guess Russia isn't "to each according to his needs" anymore (nt) Nye Bevan Nov 2013 #9

He was *paying* for something?!1 PootyPoot not kicking something?!1 Hawaii was BETTER!! n/t UTUSN Nov 2013 #11

Was someone implying he did it just to get rich? He has higher ideals. nt Electric Monk Nov 2013 #16

lol KittyWampus Nov 2013 #34

+1 uponit7771 Nov 2013 #49

+2 treestar Nov 2013 #129

You can't parody the desperation of the propaganda machine. woo me with science Nov 2013 #64

So, you're saying GG didn't write a book or option it for sale as a movie? MADem Nov 2013 #199

I've been out of money for a long time and time.com doesn't seem to care... hunter Nov 2013 #17

Well, you can't believe everything a lawyer says. randome Nov 2013 #18

And winter is coming... SidDithers Nov 2013 #20

Moscow in July is different from Hawaii. Really, really different. nt msanthrope Nov 2013 #33

While DiFi, Clapper, and Alexander are laughing all the way to the bank. NuclearDem Nov 2013 #22

+1 Enthusiast Nov 2013 #101

+100000000 woo me with science Nov 2013 #148

Should've been writing a book and collecting royalties. JaneyVee Nov 2013 #24

I am sure Glenn Greenwald will share. nt msanthrope Nov 2013 #30

There is that Palin schtick that he could emulate.... Sheepshank Nov 2013 #107

Well Mr. Snowden, live withing your means. NCTraveler Nov 2013 #25

You mean that Walmart call center job in Russia? VanillaRhapsody Nov 2013 #59

I am sure he is receiving something for his health. NCTraveler Nov 2013 #71

I don't think this is a precursor, it is a plea for donations davidpdx Nov 2013 #172

Financial strangulation is one of many weapons the powerful wield. snot Nov 2013 #26

All that matters is that GG is getting richer. tridim Nov 2013 #27

Snowden is a self-admitted Ron Paul conservative. tman Nov 2013 #28

Message auto-removed Name removed Nov 2013 #29

Oh, look. The corporate smear brigade is on the job. woo me with science Nov 2013 #31

Do you object to Snowden being used by a corporate news hack and RW libertarian for profit? tridim Nov 2013 #35

I KNOW! IT IS ALL ABOUT LIBERTARIANS!!!! woo me with science Nov 2013 #44

No, it's all a scam.. For profit. tridim Nov 2013 #46

I KNOW! YOU are RIGHT! woo me with science Nov 2013 #55

LOL, wish I could recommend your posts here. closeupready Nov 2013 #62

Glenn Greenwald is impoverishing me! woo me with science Nov 2013 #82

Glenn Greenwald hates you for your freedoms!!!11!! closeupready Nov 2013 #87

There's no surveillance state treestar Nov 2013 #131

Oh but there is a surveillance state, or haven't you read anything the last 6 months? DisgustipatedinCA Nov 2013 #164

There are just some that will refuse to see reality no matter R. Daneel Olivaw Nov 2013 #167

Did you find the bug in your house yet? treestar Nov 2013 #184

Same here. They're usually the best replies in a thread. LuvNewcastle Nov 2013 #109

Nope, I said none of that. tridim Nov 2013 #100

+ 10000000000000 Luminous Animal Nov 2013 #149

Thank you woo LondonReign2 Nov 2013 #122

encapsulated or emulated? Sheepshank Nov 2013 #124

"GOLDSTEIN! I MEAN, GREENWALD!" tblue Nov 2013 #147

funny how the ideologues on DU ALSO "swarm" onto "these" threads. But you aren't manufactured. KittyWampus Nov 2013 #36

Here's a map! woo me with science Nov 2013 #45

bizarre non sequitur. You might want to see someone about your apparent disorientation. KittyWampus Nov 2013 #117

The one percent drones are flooding GD! snooper2 Nov 2013 #53

Auto text? treestar Nov 2013 #132

Gotta be cut and paste... SidDithers Nov 2013 #139

+1 Poll_Blind Nov 2013 #76

+1. I'm with you on manufactured swarms. Enthusiast Nov 2013 #103

Is the Illuminati involved too? gcomeau Nov 2013 #108

THIS ^^^^^^^^^^^^ nt treestar Nov 2013 #133

+1. sagat Nov 2013 #153

Nope, just lizards. woo me with science Nov 2013 #186

How is it a "smear job" when the words are from Snowden's own attorney? Blue_Tires Nov 2013 #111

I wish that corporation would start paying me treestar Nov 2013 #130

Why would they buy the cow Union Scribe Nov 2013 #175

I don't defend it; I am just asking questions treestar Nov 2013 #180

+1 Marr Nov 2013 #138

LOL, too funny. Good stuff. tritsofme Nov 2013 #196

Snowden is a poo poo head! woo me with science Nov 2013 #32

Even some Canadians. RC Nov 2013 #58

+1 And the British, too... woo me with science Nov 2013 #80

Splain to me how that works. Puglover Nov 2013 #195

Maybe Glenn Greenwald can send him some money. MineralMan Nov 2013 #38

woot! great news. Let's hope he suffers and starves. Yay for you and your hate of cali Nov 2013 #39

Boo! OP expressed no opinion. randome Nov 2013 #40

I think Cali might be in love with him. tridim Nov 2013 #41

Since Snowden abandoned his fiance, I suppose the field is wide open now. randome Nov 2013 #43

She was a ballerina, too! He ABANDONED her! woo me with science Nov 2013 #57

First requirement...you must be an adept pole dancer! VanillaRhapsody Nov 2013 #63

tridiim, tridim, sitting in a tree cali Nov 2013 #67

you are quite correct Cali. I may have, but you NEVER have lionized Edward Snowden - You have only Douglas Carpenter Nov 2013 #98

The lionization of Eddie Snowden: Whisp Nov 2013 #112

He already has the courage and heart, I'll give him that. randome Nov 2013 #119

LOL treestar Nov 2013 #137

Where's Catherina been? treestar Nov 2013 #135

lol. yes, yes. let's just forget what else the OP has posted over and over as cali Nov 2013 #60

I do 'forget' things like that. Deliberately. So that each post can stand or fall on its own merits. randome Nov 2013 #77

that strikes me as absurd. cali Nov 2013 #86

Context matters but maybe not as much as you think. randome Nov 2013 #96

Really? Marr Nov 2013 #144

Stuff like this you mean? I'm such a bad bad person: struggle4progress Nov 2013 #146

I guess you could ask his lawyer to STFU if you don't like what the lawyer says struggle4progress Nov 2013 #145

few people have sacrificed so much for our freedom as Edward Snowden Douglas Carpenter Nov 2013 #42

Thank you. This is the truth. This is how corrupt our government has become. woo me with science Nov 2013 #47

Really? Your fellow DUers are part of a propaganda machine... randome Nov 2013 #51

really? Senators Leahy, Wyden and others are just hysterical little ninnies? cali Nov 2013 #88

Comparing anyone to a Congressman is a fool's errand. randome Nov 2013 #93

Not in so many words but you've repeatedly insinuated just that. cali Nov 2013 #116

Some people just want to be slaves and be told what to do, cali. R. Daneel Olivaw Nov 2013 #168

Ummm, no... Snowden could've gotten rich going about this the ANOTHER way but decided NOT to uponit7771 Nov 2013 #50

Just like George Bush! VanillaRhapsody Nov 2013 #65

"Few people have sacrificed so much for our freedom"? VanillaRhapsody Nov 2013 #68

Our causalities in Iraq are innocent victims. But, I cannot imagine how anyone can Douglas Carpenter Nov 2013 #73

How can anyone with a straight face claim Eddie's actions have? nt treestar Nov 2013 #140

It is an indisputable fact that Mr. Snowden's actions have forced a an open discussion about the Douglas Carpenter Nov 2013 #152

It is not an indisputable fact treestar Nov 2013 #162

Dude, you either really need to wake up or stop with the disinformation. R. Daneel Olivaw Nov 2013 #169

It is not possible to look at the facts objectively and conclude otherwise. To egage in this Douglas Carpenter Nov 2013 #173

Crazy traitor leaker got Congress to notice vast surveillance state By Alex Pareene Douglas Carpenter Nov 2013 #79

I'm not see that big drippy Whisp Nov 2013 #81

If this was during a Republcians Administration 90% of those who are now bashing Snowden Douglas Carpenter Nov 2013 #84

Seriously. I have to shake my head in disbelief at the partisan toddlers that obsess R. Daneel Olivaw Nov 2013 #171

Agreed. polichick Nov 2013 #197

Sounds like Snowden didn't think ANY of this all the way through! Like Der Spiegel said they uponit7771 Nov 2013 #52

Honestly, the whole thing was probably a Putin game Skraxx Nov 2013 #61

GOOD POINT... Putin in all of this is the biggest winner and .. and got to poke at US agencies... uponit7771 Nov 2013 #66

Putin used to run the KGB. He may be a jerk who likes to run around without a shirt, displaying a MADem Nov 2013 #179

and now GG has tossed him like yesterdays news... VanillaRhapsody Nov 2013 #69

Whatever happened to lounging w Glenn on Brazilian beaches flamingdem Nov 2013 #123

What? How did you come to that conclusion? In a recent profile, he says that he communicates with Luminous Animal Nov 2013 #150

Well he isn't apparently communicating with his Soviet Bank Account... VanillaRhapsody Nov 2013 #160

Another not so subtle pitch for people to donate money to Snowden. Agnosticsherbet Nov 2013 #54

Or perhaps just an observation that he lives paycheck to paycheck closeupready Nov 2013 #89

It looks like DU has another swarm to contend with. RC Nov 2013 #70

Yeah, looks like somebody put up the bat signal. QC Nov 2013 #78

+100000 woo me with science Nov 2013 #83

Obviously he should have had a garage sale of all the boxes muriel_volestrangler Nov 2013 #110

LOL! Puglover Nov 2013 #95

Hey, a small group of dedicated true believers can put together an excellent website. QC Nov 2013 #105

LOL I like that treestar Nov 2013 #141

maybe Glenn Greenwald can give him some money Whisp Nov 2013 #72

Hello Glenn, pick up Glenn! flamingdem Nov 2013 #115

I Remember You randome Nov 2013 #118

Nice. Next up "Brother Can You Spare a Dime?" flamingdem Nov 2013 #120

It's a pity pitch. Whisp Nov 2013 #74

Flashback: Bush spying legalized with Democratic votes! woo me with science Nov 2013 #90

NSA, DEA fabricating evidence trails to imprison Americans using spying. woo me with science Nov 2013 #91

This often happens to people who are fugitives from federal felony warrants alcibiades_mystery Nov 2013 #92

I had heard the cost of living is not very high there treestar Nov 2013 #142

DU smacks down shameless, slimy propaganda tactic (376 recs!) woo me with science Nov 2013 #94

377. sibelian Nov 2013 #193

Dianne Feinstein pushes fake NSA reform bill, pretends to rein in but actually legalizes spying woo me with science Nov 2013 #97

your frantic post after repost of the same message is kinda funny Sheepshank Nov 2013 #125

Ooooh, hello! sibelian Nov 2013 #194

I see lots of boiled cabbage in Eddie's future. n/t Whisp Nov 2013 #99

Shchi and Kasha, Our Staple Food. MineralMan Nov 2013 #113

I hear he got a job in tech security... Sheepshank Nov 2013 #102

Guess he ll have to do like everybody else and get a job? Packerowner740 Nov 2013 #121

Snowden is worth every penny polynomial Nov 2013 #127

Does that give you a tingle? /nt Marr Nov 2013 #134

You could always complain to Snowden's lawyer Kucherena, if you dislike what he says struggle4progress Nov 2013 #158

I've been broke for years. nt HijackedLabel Nov 2013 #136

His intentions are not knowable. riqster Nov 2013 #156

How did he have 'savings' to begin with? He just started a job a month ago, right? randome Nov 2013 #157

Cleanup on the Snowwald aisle Fumesucker Nov 2013 #159

Meanwhile, the roaches he shined the light on are eating well..and have their passports. Tierra_y_Libertad Nov 2013 #161

It. is very telling who the right wingers R. Daneel Olivaw Nov 2013 #166

What's that old saying...dissent is the highest form of patriotism? davidn3600 Nov 2013 #170

Dissent is only good when the other team is in charge. QC Nov 2013 #190

So he should get a job.... Historic NY Nov 2013 #177

I'm kind of amazed at the authoritarians here. alarimer Nov 2013 #198