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I really wish the people with a lot of money from the tech sector would be more passionate and incendiary when they address the government regarding reeling in

I really wish the people with a lot of money from the tech sector would be more passionate and incendiary when they address the government regarding reeling in the NSA. Unveiled political threats such as funding candidates who oppose incumbents siding with the NSA would also be quite helpful, I think. You can easily write off a citizen (read: serf) with passion and aggressive language to lobby the government, but it's much harder to ignore a superstar who is funding your campaign and has a large and powerful corporation.

rayiner 12y ago
You act as if citizens (read: serfs) are on the same side, being ignored by a senate just looking for campaign donations. This time last year, a majority of Americans supported the NSA program: http://www.npr.org/blogs/thetwo-way/2013/06/11/190638738/pew-majority-of-americans-support-nsa-phone-tracking http://www.npr.org/blogs/thetwo-way/2013/06/11/190638738/pew.... Only this year did the polls shift: http://www.usatoday.com/story/news/politics/2014/01/20/poll-nsa-surveillance/4638551 http://www.usatoday.com/story/news/politics/2014/01/20/poll-..., with a significant but not overwhelming 53-40 against the program. And as always, keep in mind that these are polls of the public--actual voters skew older and more conservative. A better way to frame the situation that doesn't distort it all to hell might be that the tech sector educating Congress about the economic issues might help tip a consensus that's still pretty deadlocked in the public when you look at actual voters.
- BrokenEnso 12y ago
  I'd imagine a banner at the top of Facebook for eveyone geoloc in US say to vote for reps that don't support an unchecked US intel would get noticed by everyone on the hill.
JTon 12y ago
Playing the devils advocate here: I'd imagine even a superstar takes on a sizeable amount of risk when they oppose a large and powerful organization (i.e. NSA). An individual is an easy target regardless of wealth, no? I think a wealthy individual must be just as passionate and willing to fight as his/her less wealthy counterpart
ProAm 12y ago
Dont expect a person's opinion to change when their paycheck depends on them having said opinion.

rayiner 12y ago

You act as if citizens (read: serfs) are on the same side, being ignored by a senate just looking for campaign donations. This time last year, a majority of Americans supported the NSA program: http://www.npr.org/blogs/thetwo-way/2013/06/11/190638738/pew-majority-of-americans-support-nsa-phone-tracking http://www.npr.org/blogs/thetwo-way/2013/06/11/190638738/pew.... Only this year did the polls shift: http://www.usatoday.com/story/news/politics/2014/01/20/poll-nsa-surveillance/4638551 http://www.usatoday.com/story/news/politics/2014/01/20/poll-..., with a significant but not overwhelming 53-40 against the program. And as always, keep in mind that these are polls of the public--actual voters skew older and more conservative. A better way to frame the situation that doesn't distort it all to hell might be that the tech sector educating Congress about the economic issues might help tip a consensus that's still pretty deadlocked in the public when you look at actual voters.

BrokenEnso 12y ago
I'd imagine a banner at the top of Facebook for eveyone geoloc in US say to vote for reps that don't support an unchecked US intel would get noticed by everyone on the hill.

JTon 12y ago

Playing the devils advocate here: I'd imagine even a superstar takes on a sizeable amount of risk when they oppose a large and powerful organization (i.e. NSA). An individual is an easy target regardless of wealth, no? I think a wealthy individual must be just as passionate and willing to fight as his/her less wealthy counterpart

ProAm 12y ago

Dont expect a person's opinion to change when their paycheck depends on them having said opinion.