4 ms·

It's good to know that we do have some legislators on (essentially) our side, even if their hands are, presently, tied.

chippy 13y ago
This is incredibly important. It means that there is hope, that the government is not some evil conspiracy, that there are people in power, people like ourselves. The film Enemy of the State, and conspiracy theories mean that normal people think it is the status quo that our lives are under 100% surveillance and that they are powerless. In a way its been argued that this is quite comforting. Imagine a world where no-one knows what they are doing versus imagining a world where there is a conspiracy, an evil plan. What this type of public culture makes and what the worst conspiracy theories do is make politics seem hopeless, encourages apathy and reduces trust in politicians. At the same time it makes it easier for the real abusers of power to get away with it. The recent phone tapping cases in the US being a point in case. Everyone thought it was going on all the time anyhow, so when it was revealed no one was suprised, and so the consequences were slight. To know that those in power do actually think, and do listen, and do believe in the political process is very very vital.
ihsw 13y ago
I'd recommend you watch the NSA congressional hearings starting from June. The first one is notable in that there is quite clearly some discontent. Here is a start: http://www.c-spanvideo.org/program/CybersecurityThreats http://www.c-spanvideo.org/program/CybersecurityThreats
dsuth 13y ago
It would be wrong to suggest that they're 'on our side', whatever that means, just because they met with Schneier. This could be a publicity stunt, a fact-hunting exercise (What exactly do you know, Mr. Schneier?), or just a genuine personal interest in checking other sources of information against the NSA line. Regardless of their motivation, these people are still part of the same machine that put the NSA in motion, and thus far have been ineffective in curbing even it's more obvious breaches. Action speak louder than words...

This is incredibly important. It means that there is hope, that the government is not some evil conspiracy, that there are people in power, people like ourselves. The film Enemy of the State, and conspiracy theories mean that normal people think it is the status quo that our lives are under 100% surveillance and that they are powerless. In a way its been argued that this is quite comforting. Imagine a world where no-one knows what they are doing versus imagining a world where there is a conspiracy, an evil plan. What this type of public culture makes and what the worst conspiracy theories do is make politics seem hopeless, encourages apathy and reduces trust in politicians. At the same time it makes it easier for the real abusers of power to get away with it. The recent phone tapping cases in the US being a point in case. Everyone thought it was going on all the time anyhow, so when it was revealed no one was suprised, and so the consequences were slight. To know that those in power do actually think, and do listen, and do believe in the political process is very very vital.

ihsw 13y ago

I'd recommend you watch the NSA congressional hearings starting from June. The first one is notable in that there is quite clearly some discontent. Here is a start: http://www.c-spanvideo.org/program/CybersecurityThreats http://www.c-spanvideo.org/program/CybersecurityThreats

dsuth 13y ago

It would be wrong to suggest that they're 'on our side', whatever that means, just because they met with Schneier. This could be a publicity stunt, a fact-hunting exercise (What exactly do you know, Mr. Schneier?), or just a genuine personal interest in checking other sources of information against the NSA line. Regardless of their motivation, these people are still part of the same machine that put the NSA in motion, and thus far have been ineffective in curbing even it's more obvious breaches. Action speak louder than words...