6 ms·

Some people are genuinely patriotic.

1001101 9y ago
It's a requirement given the stringency of clearances. The article didn't touch on it, but since Binney/Snowden and revelations about the domestic focus, you may not have the same kind of recruitment/retention you would have otherwise in this demographic.
mindslight 9y ago
You'd think the genuinely patriotic would avoid working for the NSA, since it apparently results in exile to Russia.
- Codestare 9y ago
  He's not exiled? The US wants him back very much.
  - westmeal 9y ago
    (Presumably so they can kick his teeth in)
  - TheCoelacanth 9y ago
    To be unfairly tried in a trial where he won't even be allowed to argue to the jury that his actions were justified.
- prewett 9y ago
  Generally breaking the law and seeking to escape the consequences has always resulted in effective exile, throughout history. In fact, how could it not? Would you like the law to be suspended in this case, but not in the case of people leaking secrets to China? Where's the difference? Is it just that what you like should be an exception? You could argue it was patriotic to break the law, but working for the NSA hardly forced him to break the law, nor did it force him to avoid the consequences. He could have been like Rosa Parks who accepted the consequences. Admittedly, hers were smaller in magnitude, but there are other options than what Snowden took.
  - watwut 9y ago
    He did accepted the consequences. The consequence is his life now, quite literally. He has zero trust toward legal system as that is not designed to be fair. He his not willing to become martyr more than is necessary - and there is nothing wrong with that. Rosa Park consequences went well beyond being arrested for one night. I am pretty sure she would prefer if she had the option to escape them - she did not. Altrough she did eventually left the city, due to consequences imposed on her there.
  - mindslight 9y ago
    Talking about "the law" is a red herring. The NSA is in explicit violation of USG's founding charter, and yet it remains in comfortable operation. But more importantly, the concept of patriotism is orthogonal.
  - nostrademons 9y ago
    Exile is the consequence, in this and most other cases.
flukus 9y ago
Would a genuinely patriotic person work for the NSA? I'd consider Snowden more patriotic than all of their current employees.
- lazyasciiart 9y ago
  http://nymag.com/daily/intelligencer/2017/12/who-is-reality-winner.html http://nymag.com/daily/intelligencer/2017/12/who-is-reality-...

It's a requirement given the stringency of clearances. The article didn't touch on it, but since Binney/Snowden and revelations about the domestic focus, you may not have the same kind of recruitment/retention you would have otherwise in this demographic.

mindslight 9y ago

You'd think the genuinely patriotic would avoid working for the NSA, since it apparently results in exile to Russia.

Codestare 9y ago
He's not exiled? The US wants him back very much.
- westmeal 9y ago
  (Presumably so they can kick his teeth in)
- TheCoelacanth 9y ago
  To be unfairly tried in a trial where he won't even be allowed to argue to the jury that his actions were justified.
prewett 9y ago
Generally breaking the law and seeking to escape the consequences has always resulted in effective exile, throughout history. In fact, how could it not? Would you like the law to be suspended in this case, but not in the case of people leaking secrets to China? Where's the difference? Is it just that what you like should be an exception? You could argue it was patriotic to break the law, but working for the NSA hardly forced him to break the law, nor did it force him to avoid the consequences. He could have been like Rosa Parks who accepted the consequences. Admittedly, hers were smaller in magnitude, but there are other options than what Snowden took.
- watwut 9y ago
  He did accepted the consequences. The consequence is his life now, quite literally. He has zero trust toward legal system as that is not designed to be fair. He his not willing to become martyr more than is necessary - and there is nothing wrong with that. Rosa Park consequences went well beyond being arrested for one night. I am pretty sure she would prefer if she had the option to escape them - she did not. Altrough she did eventually left the city, due to consequences imposed on her there.
- mindslight 9y ago
  Talking about "the law" is a red herring. The NSA is in explicit violation of USG's founding charter, and yet it remains in comfortable operation. But more importantly, the concept of patriotism is orthogonal.
- nostrademons 9y ago
  Exile is the consequence, in this and most other cases.

flukus 9y ago

Would a genuinely patriotic person work for the NSA? I'd consider Snowden more patriotic than all of their current employees.

lazyasciiart 9y ago
http://nymag.com/daily/intelligencer/2017/12/who-is-reality-winner.html http://nymag.com/daily/intelligencer/2017/12/who-is-reality-...