Quote:
Originally Posted by Andrea
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From the article:
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In other words, “national security” as such is not being used as the justification for such practices. This shows that NSA spying programs like PRISM and XKeyscore are ostensibly being used for other reasons than defending the nation from terrorism. The implications of this revelation undergird the belief of 57% of Americans that NSA spying can be used for political purposes."
It may not be being used as the justification for such practices (they don’t need to justify when they lie about it and obscure the trail
“federal documents describe a common police practice known as 'parallel construction,' which is used to mask the true origination of criminal investigations and prosecutions”) but it was used as the justification for getting said practices and programs into the system in the first place. People consistently buy into the idea that freedom is a currency that can be traded to purchase safety. Then when they read articles like this explaining the misuse of government power procured originally under the guise of national security many decide it doesn’t matter because it only effects criminals and who cares about druggies and their rights. If you break the law you pay the price. The problems with that line of thinking are numerous and complex (the most glaring being they don't mostly use it against criminals, they use their ill gotten power mostly against everyday people) this isn’t the thread for it for sure. But let me say this about that, it may sound like a different issue but I think the fact that the US, as of 2008, has approximately one in every 31 adults (7.3 million) behind bars, or on parole or probation, makes this type of the end justifies the means justice everyone’s problem. Make a deal with the devil and you can pack your winter clothes away for good.