General Discussion

DirkGently

(12,151 posts)

4. Right. The ACLU and the EFF were RIGHT. NSA was wrong.

Thu Jan 23, 2014, 02:01 PM

Jan 2014

Can we now finally dispose all the of the nonsense rationalizations?

- "But it's totally legal because FISA!"

- "Privacy / schmivacy. The innocent have nothing to fear!"

- "But everyone does it!"

- "It's keeping us safe. Maybe."

The NSA is out of control, and two Bush and two Obama administrations have allowed it grow ever more so. Not to keep us safe. Not because of terrorism. Not because no one's privacy is being violated.

So, why?

Lack of will? Lack of power?

Is the intelligence community so powerful that even U.S. Presidents have to give in to the "Total Informational Awareness" they've wanted for decades?

Can we even stop them at this point?

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U.S. privacy board says NSA phone program illegal; should end [View all] DirkGently Jan 2014 OP

k and r nashville_brook Jan 2014 #1

And more from the NYT: DirkGently Jan 2014 #3

After listening to his speech the other night, bvar22 Jan 2014 #8

It's a huge business already. I'm sure there's a DirkGently Jan 2014 #10

Thatchernomics is not a good thing MisterP Jan 2014 #16

Obama says it's useful, but the report says it hasn't provided anything concrete mindwalker_i Jan 2014 #9

The Intelligence community assumes all data is "useful." DirkGently Jan 2014 #11

Exactly, and the key point can be summarized thusly: mindwalker_i Jan 2014 #17

link to the ACLU statement --> nashville_brook Jan 2014 #2

Right. The ACLU and the EFF were RIGHT. NSA was wrong. DirkGently Jan 2014 #4

here's the full text of the oversight board report --> nashville_brook Jan 2014 #5

Thanks! DirkGently Jan 2014 #12

K & R !!! WillyT Jan 2014 #6

here's the EFF statement --> nashville_brook Jan 2014 #7

So Snowden DID blow the whistle on illegal activity. Luminous Animal Jan 2014 #13

THAT is a good point. DirkGently Jan 2014 #15

+1000 G_j Jan 2014 #19

eggsactly. nashville_brook Jan 2014 #25

The program is too dangerous LittleBlue Jan 2014 #14

That's what Bernie Sanders said about it also and he also said 'it has to stop' sabrina 1 Jan 2014 #18

The industry will make it hard to roll this stuff back. DirkGently Jan 2014 #22

I agree. In the end it is all about money and we have no significant number of elected officials sabrina 1 Jan 2014 #23

At least the conversation has begun. DirkGently Jan 2014 #24

Hmmm. Where are the "but it's only metadata" apologists? Luminous Animal Jan 2014 #20

K&R Solly Mack Jan 2014 #21

K&R woo me with science Jan 2014 #26