“Entirely Political? Then what would be the purpose of hacking, monitoring, wiretapping, and data mining of the innocent law abiding of any given country? “
They are defending the new communist state and its leaders from wicked, bitter bible clinging gun lovers. That’s not political? It’s certainly not economic. If they were finding out that dragnet2 was willing to take $4,500 for his 13 year old Ford F150 when you had it listed for $6,250, and they told potential buyers, then that would be economic. There are really only two types of international and domestic spying. (I will add that finding out Justice Anthony Kennedy had an ongoing affair with a sheep named Dolly and was open to blackmail...nope, still political.)
Absolutely, I think we both agree, but I see the motives as not simply political, but an effort for total punitive control and manipulation, beyond what most would consider political. An dictatorial over throw of established law, Constitution etc.
But blackmail is a serious crime, regardless of the motive.
I think it’s just the term I tend to disagree with. I guess I need to learn politics is just another criminal enterprise.