Did Snowden really tell us anything we didn’t already know?
Certainly the scale of the behavior. Previously people who raised the possibilitly were called kooks and conspiricy nuts.
Good question
Did Snowden really tell us anything we didn’t already know?
No, he didn’t. Anyone paying attention has known about the NSA data mining the electronic world. The curse of increased technology will always be decreased privacy. We willingly subject ourselves to this when we search the world wide web and the companies we search with use our searches to target advertisements to us and sell our information to others. We subject ourselves to this when we go to websites that put cookies on our computers to track our habits.
I would argue google and yahoo know more about us than the NSA. This is a difficult situation and the real question should be “what did congress know and when did they know it.” I believe they have to approve this if it is legal. If they did not approve it, I believe Rand Paul is correct and this was illegal.
Snowden told us with proof what we previously suspected. There is a significant difference.
CityCenter: “Did Snowden really tell us anything we didn’t already know?”
We suspected the government was tracking sites like Free Republic and collecting all email traffic, but now we know they almost certainly do. Oh, it’s not like they read everything. They just collect and store it all for later use.
As Snowden explained in his interview, the infrastructure for Big Brother is being laid, and the only thing that prevents that infrastructure from being used for nefarious purposes (if it already isn’t), is a policy change.
I’ll give Bolton the benefit of the doubt at this point and say the information is only used to combat terrorism. However, Bolton apparently doesn’t understand the immense power we are giving the government. Frankly, I just don’t trust the government to never use that power against US citizens, even if it’s being used more carefully right now.
“Did Snowden really tell us anything we didn’t already know?”
Well, considering all the furor in the press, by the MSM, by the pundits on all TV stations, by the fact that this is leading the news everywhere, and by the reaction of the U.S. populace, yes, I would say most people didn’t know, and how would they? You think everyone in the country reads Free Republic? Sheeesh....
Well, maybe. Here is quote from Snowden:
"I, sitting at my desk, certainly had the authorities to wiretap anyone, from you, or your accountant, to a federal judge, to even the President if I had a personal email."
Personally I don't believe he could do this. But he claims he could and, if so, this is definitely new news. But if, in fact, he couldn't then I think it puts much of what he has told us in doubt.
I believe that the "authorities" will deny that such a capability exists. Will we believe them? I doubt it. Even if they are telling us the truth I think the mood of the country and certainly here on FR is to doubt everything and anything we hear from the Obama Administration or, in this particular case, the pro-defense arm of the GOP.
Sad to say but then again it's probably a healthy development. Maybe a few Dems will wake up.
Yes, he did.
He told us that the government, in pursuit of single terrorists, has gotten warrants and OK’s to snatch the data of everyone.
Let me put it to you thusly:
What we’re learning now is that the government suspects that there *might* be a drug dealer in your neighborhood. So as a result, they got a warrant to conduct black-bag operations on every house in the neighborhood. While you’re at work (or whereever), they let themselves into your house and search all your personal property for evidence, then they leave.
Did they ever suspect you or your family? “Noooooo....” they protest.
But they searched your house.
“For your safety,” they claim.
Did they find the drug dealer?
“Ummm..... no, but we’ll do better in the future.”
There, now you’ve had it explained to you.