the people who defended the NSA most vociferously, are those

[davidthegnome]

83. Part of the prolem, I think...

is that people very much want to believe in the President. So when he does something that is seen as good, as noble, as courageous or compassionate in some way... then there will always be some that can be relied upon to cheer for him. My understanding of the reforms is that, basically, the information will continue to be collected, it will now simply have to be in some way approved by a secret court - the details of this are all too vague. It's like saying, "Yeah, we went ahead and made some great changes to protect your civil rights, we just can't explain it to you, because, you know, it's a secret."

I remember, some years ago, being a hopeful young man who read a story about the Audacity of Hope. The President we have - and the person who wrote that book, are not the same person (oh yes, I know what I did there). I have never disliked the President, though I have been angry and disappointed with him at times, I maintain my belief that he is basically a good man, who has a really shitty job.

While we may not truly be living in a democracy anymore, we're not in a monarchy either. The President has some limited authority, but I expect that there are some things he simply cannot do, without risk to the health and safety of himself and his family. Yes, I do suspect that there is a sinister group in this government, or perhaps within our MIC, that pretty much tells the public figureheads how high to jump (or, more specifically, how high they CAN jump). Yes, I'm paranoid - but that doesn't mean they aren't out to get us.