4 ms·

"Treason against the United States, shall consist only in levying war against them, or in adhering to their enemies, giving them aid and comfort. No person shal

by flubert 10y ago

"Treason against the United States, shall consist only in levying war against them, or in adhering to their enemies, giving them aid and comfort. No person shall be convicted of treason unless on the testimony of two witnesses to the same overt act, or on confession in open court. The Congress shall have power to declare the punishment of treason, but no attainder of treason shall work corruption of blood, or forfeiture except during the life of the person attainted." https://www.law.cornell.edu/constitution/articleiii https://www.law.cornell.edu/constitution/articleiii

samstave 10y ago
uh... thats not what I meant. Define how what Snowden did was treason, definitively.
- stale2002 10y ago
  What the NSA did was treason. They systematically disregarded the constitution. Those responsible should be put in jail for life, for crimes against the American people and betraying our country.
  - samstave 10y ago
    Thats exactly what I meant :-)
- xanderstrike 10y ago
  He is a hero, but he gave confidential government information to foreign powers. Objectively speaking, he betrayed the NSA and the US government. That's treason Debating whether or not what Snowden did was treason is, I think, folly. You can't. He's a traitor to the NSA and the US government. The question in my mind is whether or not his act of treachery had a net positive effect on the citizens of the US and the world. I think human beings have a right to know they're being spied on, en masse, without any reasonable suspicion, so that they can do something about it. For me, Snowden is a hero for what he's done, and for the sacrifices he's made in an effort to make the world a freer place (or at least get the ball rolling). Remember that you don't pardon the innocent. Even those calling for his pardon know that he's guilty. Their argument is just that what he did was worth breaking the law.
  - samstave 10y ago
    This is a fantastic response and perspective. Thanks

by flubert 10y ago

samstave 10y ago

uh... thats not what I meant. Define how what Snowden did was treason, definitively.

stale2002 10y ago
What the NSA did was treason. They systematically disregarded the constitution. Those responsible should be put in jail for life, for crimes against the American people and betraying our country.
- samstave 10y ago
  Thats exactly what I meant :-)
xanderstrike 10y ago
He is a hero, but he gave confidential government information to foreign powers. Objectively speaking, he betrayed the NSA and the US government. That's treason Debating whether or not what Snowden did was treason is, I think, folly. You can't. He's a traitor to the NSA and the US government. The question in my mind is whether or not his act of treachery had a net positive effect on the citizens of the US and the world. I think human beings have a right to know they're being spied on, en masse, without any reasonable suspicion, so that they can do something about it. For me, Snowden is a hero for what he's done, and for the sacrifices he's made in an effort to make the world a freer place (or at least get the ball rolling). Remember that you don't pardon the innocent. Even those calling for his pardon know that he's guilty. Their argument is just that what he did was worth breaking the law.
- samstave 10y ago
  This is a fantastic response and perspective. Thanks