That's not actually a full counter-argument, since scheming requires two parts: that one person or a small group of people had a long term vision and goal, and

That's not actually a full counter-argument, since scheming requires two parts: that one person or a small group of people had a long term vision and goal, and that result was actually achieved. Blaming the current state of spying just a nefarious spy organization is pure reductive conspiracy theory speculation. The truth is more prosaic and also more frustrating: we all collectively, including voters and and politicians, got ourselves into this mess.