4 ms·

they realize what they have to do in their jobs contradicts the high idealized patriotic beliefs of what this country is about This is extremely uncommon. For

they realize what they have to do in their jobs contradicts the high idealized patriotic beliefs of what this country is about This is extremely uncommon. For example, I used to be a submarine officer in the Navy, and I left as a conscientious objector because of this realization. In an average year, less than 100 active duty service members will apply for conscientious objector status (there are over 1 million active duty personnel). If you take a look at [this graph](http://izbicki.me/blog/most-conscientious-objectors-are-not-reservists http://izbicki.me/blog/most-conscientious-objectors-are-not-...) based on GAO data, you'll see that the number of conscientious objector applications dropped significantly after September 11th. This is despite the fact that the wars afterward have been much more controversial and less just. Why is [NSA moral] low? I'd bet it's not because of any ethical conflicts. Instead, it's because 100s of man-years of work is going out the window. One of their own betrayed them. This would be demoralizing even for the most ethically unquestionable teams.

mschuster91 13y ago
Instead, it's because 100s of man-years of work is going out the window. Rightly so, because this work should never have been done at all!
oconnor0 13y ago
People may have ethical conflicts but not voice or do much with them because they feel the security their job provides is superior to leaving & having to find something new.
NIL8 13y ago
The NSA's morale is low because shit rolls downhill. The pressure is increased while blame flows down The Hill through every office and cubicle. New procedures are set in place so that supervisors can tell their supervisors what steps they've taken to ensure there won't be another Snowden. Peons scramble to adopt these new procedures all while under closer scrutiny from everyone around them. Everyone, including the janitors, are pressed to find "traitors" in their ranks. All of this while harvesting/analyzing new data and shredding/deleting evidence. I'm guessing that $100,000+ salary is fast losing it's allure.

mschuster91 13y ago

Instead, it's because 100s of man-years of work is going out the window. Rightly so, because this work should never have been done at all!

oconnor0 13y ago

People may have ethical conflicts but not voice or do much with them because they feel the security their job provides is superior to leaving & having to find something new.

NIL8 13y ago

The NSA's morale is low because shit rolls downhill. The pressure is increased while blame flows down The Hill through every office and cubicle. New procedures are set in place so that supervisors can tell their supervisors what steps they've taken to ensure there won't be another Snowden. Peons scramble to adopt these new procedures all while under closer scrutiny from everyone around them. Everyone, including the janitors, are pressed to find "traitors" in their ranks. All of this while harvesting/analyzing new data and shredding/deleting evidence. I'm guessing that $100,000+ salary is fast losing it's allure.