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As someone who usually makes statements against the NSA and other rogue agencies (or other types of corruption), I'm going to have to defend them here. While t
by pdkl95 12y ago
As someone who usually makes statements against the NSA and other rogue agencies (or other types of corruption), I'm going to have to defend them here.
While there are certainly people at the top that need to go to jail (and it obviously is an open question as to who and how many), I strongly suspect that many of the people working there are simply following vague or seemingly-unrelated orders. Also, cries of urgency and need are hard to ignore, especially when they are wrapped in patriotism and the idea that you're trying to protect others.
All of this is especially true at the NSA, which is historically very compartmentalized ("need to know"), which further confuses the issue.
As for the future once those responsible are jailed, vigilance is the price of peace. In this case, what would be making sure regulation/oversight happens and actually has the power to do their job. The problem of regulatory capture is the systemic problem across the government in general. We need to address that problem (urgently), but it is not an NSA specific problem.
- jrochkind1 12y agoWould it make people think twice about following illegal orders, if they knew they could be prosecuted for it? I don't think the threat of prosecution would, actually, for several reasons. But it any part of the government was willing to uphold the law, it might make people think twice, that maybe following illegal orders isn't patriotic after all.
- pdkl95 12y agoWhile I'm not sure the effect the fear of prosecution might have, it is very important to stop conditioning people that they are above the law. Operant conditioning works, and it is a very bad idea in the long run to put people in a Skinner Box that teaches people not only that they won't be prosecuted, but can gain benefits like the occasional promotion for efficiently getting "results".
- femto 12y agoMaybe that's the NSA's real fear about Snowden: that his whistle blowing may allow the NSA's own employees to see a bigger picture, past the "need to know", and that employees might realise that they are part of illegal activities, resulting in a revolt from within?
- pieter_mj 12y agoLots of needtoknowers will have their eyes opened, that's for sure.
- eidyia 12y ago> I strongly suspect that many of the people working there are simply following vague or seemingly-unrelated orders. So you are using ignorance as an excuse??