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Well, why should they curb it? Some citizens want it curbed, but that's not always a good reason to curb something. I say look at it from a political perspectiv
by jonnybgood 13y ago
Well, why should they curb it? Some citizens want it curbed, but that's not always a good reason to curb something. I say look at it from a political perspective. What does a congressman have to lose politically by introducing such a bill? Here's a hypothetical: A congressman introduces a bill, the bill gets passed, and a month later extremists successfully detonate a bomb in a populated area killing several people. It's now election time. Guess what the opponent's platform would most likely include. Probably something along the lines of: "I won't vote on laws that will endanger American lives." Game over for the congressman.
This is just one possibility why we haven't seen any significant movement towards legislation. It sounds oversimplified, but it can make or break an election.
- acqq 13y agoHow about: because there is still something called the constitution, and those who lie are the ones who swore and with the highest duty to protect it? Why does constitution get to be completely ignored now, together with all the unconstitutional acts by the highest in the government?
- sdoering 13y agoWell following the Median-Voter theory, it really explains this all. The median US voter seems not to care and so there is not enough political incentive to curb these practices (the same here in Germany: there is not enough incentive for politicians to challenge the US on this). To me it seems there is only one thing left to do: Inner emigration. I have given up. I ignore Government. I really do not want my psychological/emotional well-being depended on the next worst thing coming from "The Government (TM)". My fellow citizens don't care. OK; fine with me. Heading into police state? OK; fine with me. When dictatorial police state finally arrives I am gone. Have fun you citizens who never cared.
- Ygg2 13y agoWhere do hell do you emigrate? What place has such laws that this scenario won't just repeat itself?
- sigkill 13y agoSince he said "Inner emigration" I think he means to say dropping off the grid. But I maybe wrong here.
- Ygg2 13y agoI'm not sure how dropping off the grid would help you? If you don't d it all the way the others will find you. And living like that is impractical, while not preventing ability of authorities to find you (just minimizing).
- joshfraser 13y agoMaybe because that congressman fears that any bills he proposes will be met with a NSA-powered smear campaign that leak will private information to the press revealing his drug habits, secret lover, moments of indiscretion, offshore bank account, whatever.
- jonnybgood 13y agoI keep seeing this theory. However, Occam's razor is best applied here.
- wpietri 13y ago> Well, why should they curb it? Because ubiquitous surveillance undermines freedoms key to a functioning democracy. For example, freedom of the press: http://www.juancole.com/2013/11/censoring-scrutiny-mccauley.html http://www.juancole.com/2013/11/censoring-scrutiny-mccauley.... I also think it undermines freedom of speech. When the Snowden stuff started coming out, I wanted to ask friends in government what they thought. But the only ways I can ask them are at risk from government snooping. Not wanting to put them at risk, there's no way I can ask them. Basically, all of them took an oath. They should live up to that.
- thaumasiotes 13y ago"I won't vote on laws that will endanger American lives" would preclude a politician from ever voting on anything, for or against.