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I really do commend everyone involved in this effort. This is how the system is supposed to work, citizens making their voices know, and the legislature acting
by s_q_b 13y ago
I really do commend everyone involved in this effort. This is how the system is supposed to work, citizens making their voices know, and the legislature acting upon the will of the people.
Honestly you guys got far closer to your goal than I would have anticipated. The bipartison support was almost unprecedented in recent years.
From a practical matter, even if the House bill passed it was dead on arrival in the Senate. But nevertheless it is a significant symbolic blow to blanket surveillance against American citizens.
All I've tried to communicate, perhaps with less than appropriate tact, is that this is going to be a long slog.
If you're going to reign in the surveillance state, you'll need to start thinking like Washington insiders. Pick one incumbent that vocally supported these programs, and take him or her down. That will instantly catapult this issue to the top of the concerns in DC.
It only costs a few million to get that done. Considering the wealth of the tech industry, and the threat this poses to overseas expansion of the US internet services, donations shouldn't be overly difficult to drum up. We could really make a large dent in getting the legislature to help roll back these programs to sane levels. Add to that an anit-SOPA style social media campaign, and you could accomplish real and lasting change.
- fnordfnordfnord 13y ago> Pick one incumbent that vocally supported these programs, and take him or her down. That sounds wonderful. Who do you suggest? Mike Rogers? Ruppersberger? Labrador?
- s_q_b 13y agoLet me think on that. It's really a political question of vulnerability. You want someone that's prominent enough in the debate, but weak enough in their home district to take down. A senator would be better than a Congressman... You'll also have to remember that there is a series of corporate interests, large and small, with very deep pockets that will oppose any check on the surveillance state, no matter how reasonable. Full Disclosure: I don't support outright ending these programs, as many of you do. I do support real judicial oversight, transparency into the law being made in the FISA opinions, and a series of internal and external safeguards to reign these programs in from the brink. I know it's not the most popular opinion in these parts, but politics makes for strange bedfellows. No reason that we can't work together on the things we agree upon.
- cma 13y agoEven if it lost, it still brought in enough support that it makes it hard to say Snowden didn't bring up something worthy of public debate. Makes it that much harder to charge him with treason, which is a good thing.