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This is extremely scary, and it also seems like a better way of phrasing the argument for the general populace to realize what mass surveillance is capable of.

This is extremely scary, and it also seems like a better way of phrasing the argument for the general populace to realize what mass surveillance is capable of. I don't think most people would argue in favor of Watergate type spying, evidenced by how Nixon resigned shortly after it was revealed. Hopefully this kind of tack will be used more and more to get these stories to resonate with the average non-techie person and get them worked up enough to care.

protomyth 13y ago
"I don't think most people would argue in favor of Watergate type spying, evidenced by how Nixon resigned shortly after it was revealed." You might want to review a timeline of events for Watergate. Nixon won re-election after the initial reporting and stayed in office until Aug of 74.
- ianstormtaylor 13y ago
  Definitely should review them then haha. Looking at it now "shortly" was the wrong word to use. He got re-elected after the initial story leaked, but more things started leaking, like the 18-minute gap in the tapes, and other things started to unravel. Although, I think the fact that the cover up was so grand is pretty good evidence that the general populace is against that type of behavior once they become aware of it's magnitude.
  - protomyth 13y ago
    I hope the general populace is against it, but there are so many cases of worse stuff that I have come to doubt it. It seems like if you look good on TV the populace gives you a rather large pass.
crassus 13y ago
If your political system depends on convincing your average non-techie person to believe sensible things, then your political system has a design flaw.
- ianstormtaylor 13y ago
  Sounds like a slippery slope to dictatorship to me.
  - crassus 13y ago
    Only in the age of degenerate democracy would people imagine that the only alternative to mob rule is dictatorship, and fantasize that the two are opposites.

protomyth 13y ago

"I don't think most people would argue in favor of Watergate type spying, evidenced by how Nixon resigned shortly after it was revealed." You might want to review a timeline of events for Watergate. Nixon won re-election after the initial reporting and stayed in office until Aug of 74.

ianstormtaylor 13y ago
Definitely should review them then haha. Looking at it now "shortly" was the wrong word to use. He got re-elected after the initial story leaked, but more things started leaking, like the 18-minute gap in the tapes, and other things started to unravel. Although, I think the fact that the cover up was so grand is pretty good evidence that the general populace is against that type of behavior once they become aware of it's magnitude.
- protomyth 13y ago
  I hope the general populace is against it, but there are so many cases of worse stuff that I have come to doubt it. It seems like if you look good on TV the populace gives you a rather large pass.

crassus 13y ago

If your political system depends on convincing your average non-techie person to believe sensible things, then your political system has a design flaw.

ianstormtaylor 13y ago
Sounds like a slippery slope to dictatorship to me.
- crassus 13y ago
  Only in the age of degenerate democracy would people imagine that the only alternative to mob rule is dictatorship, and fantasize that the two are opposites.