I still have very mixed feelings on this. To start with I dont know enough of the story yet. I did work a security job for 35 years and had to have various clearances. On briefings for them they always put the fear of God in us about singing.
First this high tech is a weapon that can be used for defense but also offensevily. All depends on how this tool is used. The thing is, if you have a good goverment that you trust its fine but with a corrupt goverment its awful. When the goverment changes or bad people get access to info we are in trouble. From what I have read so far, snowden hasnt gave out any specfic info, just that we now have a tool that can spy on us. I think most of us suspected that anyway for quite some time. It`s just that all the sudden its confirmed and in our faces!
I never have commited or planned a crime but I dont think I would have ever been dumb enough to send a E-mail or use the phone to talk about it to begin with. I belive most normal people have realised for quite awhile now that there must be possible records of it somewhere. I also would take it as fact and hope the goverment in a national emergency would even use illegal means to get intelligence to stop a tradgity. What am I missing here?
The Constitution gave and Scotus has confirmed several rights.
1. Free Speech--knowing the Gestapo is listening tends to depress this.
2. The right to privacy.
3. The right against illegal search and seizure, Scotus has extended that to include mail, phone etc many times. This can't be done without a warrant and it was.
4. Spying on your citizens, really how can you not get this, it's basic common sense. No one has an issue with warranted wire tapping on suspects with probable cause, but the only people who spy/spied on the entire population till now, were the Nazi's, the Chinese and Communist Russia. Which of those do you endorse?
5. Finally again, have you thought about what you are saying, you endorse the Government being able to choose when to declare exigent circumstances and when to spy at will? Seriously, the are a lot of historical examples and quotes on Government's have unrestrained power, read those.
Most importantly, the SECRET COURT created to monitor this declared it unconstitutional and told them to stop, they refused and ignored court orders. Think about the ramifications of the Court System being rendered moot and no one being able to stop illegal acts by the Government. JMO.
