Just to see if I understand the logic correctly, this person thinks the leak is reprehensible, but the collection of this data is just dandy?
So, the knowledge of this program existing is a huge danger to us, but the actual collection of this data in no way infringes on our rights? Or, are they saying they don't care about the latter b/c of the former?
I sometimes can't tell what is malice and what is incompetence in government. I'd obviously like to assume incompetence, though, to be honest, that really doesn't make me sleep better at night thinking the people making and overseeing policy are just plain stupid.
How does this surprise anyone? Bradley Manning released tapes of the US military murdering civilians after the military denied it happened. Dude went to jail, military continued to deny thing there is evidence of, and on we go. People literally see the guy who exposed heinous crimes as worse than the people who committed the heinous crimes. It's utterly depressing.
You can not deny the fact they have been lying. Hiding information about data collection and denying it until the evidence is right there in front of them is lying. I'm not saying all politicians are liars, but it sure as hell seems that way.
One of the things I find most disturbing is how the law has been twisted in such a way as to make hiding this program not only legal, but any action that might bring it to light seems to have been classified as _illegal_. Maybe I'm just naive, but this seems just nutty to me.
So, the knowledge of this program existing is a huge danger to us, but the actual collection of this data in no way infringes on our rights? Or, are they saying they don't care about the latter b/c of the former?
I sometimes can't tell what is malice and what is incompetence in government. I'd obviously like to assume incompetence, though, to be honest, that really doesn't make me sleep better at night thinking the people making and overseeing policy are just plain stupid.