.... or even for someone like me, who believes swearing an oath to the government MEANS something... provided that said government is not actually killing, injuring, relocating, or imprisoning people for political beliefs.
The above is my red-line. His was set lower. Thusly the dichotomy of my answer: He deserves both prison, and acclaim and award.
Well, the points you bring up are excellent examples of violating natural law.
I believe a government, who perpetually spies upon Americans and violate even more natural rights like the 1st, 2nd, particularly the 4th and 5th, the 14th and 10th are amoral acts commited not, by some inanimate object but, by people who act above the law, subverting it, and “consuming” your rights along the way.
Was there a more elegant way for Snowden to object and bring this to the light for fellow Americans to see?
I don’t think so.
I also believe it went to level of conspiracy, which compounds it.
You and I are from similar backgrounds in our respective careers.
I get your view and take on this but, the alternative to a Snowden probably doesn’t exist.
The government hasn’t the right to pursue criminals while violating our rights and at its basic level and the mindset of this administration that is what we are dealing with.
The sedition act was a gross violation of our rights, as was the internment of Japanese Americans.
So too the Tuskegee experiments amd many others.