There is a lot of politics in these debates, but surely you don't think that as Internet users and technology professionals these revelations hold zero meaning

There is a lot of politics in these debates, but surely you don't think that as Internet users and technology professionals these revelations hold zero meaning for the HN community beyond "politics"? I think the current system is fine, where NSA-related stories are (apparently) assigned a handicap to begin with. So those that make it to the home page are usually more significant pieces. And the best way to avoid the "debates" is to not read the comments (if that is what grates you) but just read the story. If even that's too much just read the headline, shrug at the needless brouhaha people are making about it all, and move on to the next news item.