Everyone is under surveillance now, says whistleblower Edward Snowden

[JDPriestly]

55. Why do I believe Snowden and disbelieve the NSA?

Why do I disbelieve the NSA?

1) They have a pecuniary interest in lying about the spying. It's their job. They get paid for spying on Americans. If they admitted what they are doing, really admitted the full extent of it, they could well lose their jobs. They might even be forced to escape to Russia where it would, in an ironic turn of events, be they who would be under surveillance.

2) They could face severe penalties if they told the truth.

3) They have the option of proving exactly what they do and do not do. All they would have to do is open their program up for public scrutiny. Simple. That they have not done that makes me doubt their veracity.

Why do I believe Snowden?

1) Because he has nothing to gain by lying. He brought documents out of the NSA. Either what he says will be confirmed in those documents or not. But he knows that if the documents do not support his claims, people will not believe him. In those circumstances, why would he bother to lie?

2) He will not get any additional money by lying. Maybe a few prizes, but no money. The prizes will soon be forgotten. Snowden is stuck in Russia. Snowden again has nothing to gain by lying.

3) If Snowden is lying, again, the NSA could prove it and make him look like a fool if they opened up their files and records to the public and showed precisely what the limits are on what they do. That would not be so difficult. The programs haven't really caught many terrorists. It's hard to say what they do achieve. It's hard to determine what the NSA's goal is. Certainly nothing commensurate with the tax money spent on them. Why doesn't the NSA present real evidence rather than just statements that would place doubt on Snowden's revelations?

To me, it is just logical to trust Snowden more than the NSA. The NSA has lied before. Clapper lied to Congress. The NSA is not to be trusted.

Maybe Snowden realized that and for that reason decided to leave the NSA with the documents.