Why do we tolerate the NSA?

[JohnnyRingo]

73. I really don't propose anyone discard the tech of the 21st century.

It just seems sometimes that the people who are most concerned with privacy are those who shout the loudest from their back porch. Someday I may initiate a post with the title: "I want everyone in the universe to read this... except the government".

I don't know what I find more off-putting, the arrogance of some who believe the govt is interested in their weekly rants, or that that sending an enciphered electronic transmission to a cell tower is a sacred trust bestowed specifically by the Constitution.

In this case, I can hardly call the OP's five sentences a rant, and the overly simple "solution" seems to be calling for an end to all national intel gathering. As solutions to complex issues go, that's right up there with throwing all the world's firearms into the ocean to stop gun violence, and ending racism by insisting that we love one another.

I usually don't reply to posts that I suspect may be designed to ring up high counts, but this one was just too tempting. I imagine he'll jumble the words in the five sentences around in a couple days and repost to a new choir of huzzahs and kudos, but I've already voiced my opinion.

I wish I could trademark a form post here: "I've had it with ______, and ______ is no better than the republicans!". If I could collect a dime for every post here that follows that format, I could stop worrying about my daily survival and focus more on issues like privacy in a world where consumers demand electronic convenience delivered at the speed of light.