I'd rather imagine a world where the public servants believe in adherance to the standards of ethics befitting of a nation who justifies its actions by claiming

I'd rather imagine a world where the public servants believe in adherance to the standards of ethics befitting of a nation who justifies its actions by claiming moral high ground. I'm not afraid of al Qaeda because, as our illustrious president said, Americans refuse to be terrorized. When our public servants can perjure themselves before Congress, then they are fitting of the description morally bankrupt. Some may say that Clapper was merely lying to preserve state secrets, but he didn't have to lie about anything he felt uncomfortable speaking on, he could have simply said, "I can't talk about that," which would have been the truth. Perhaps your in-laws are comfortable being lied to by our public servants, however I am not.