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The thing about pervasive government surveillance is that we just can't trust that the judges who decide their legality haven't been compromised. That's what's
by pvnick 12y ago
The thing about pervasive government surveillance is that we just can't trust that the judges who decide their legality haven't been compromised. That's what's so devastating about these programs - there is a distinct possibility that their existence self-perpetuates by targeting those that would keep them in check. The same should be considered if the US supreme court decides their constitutionality [1].
[1] http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2014/04/17/supreme-court-nsa_n_5170559.html http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2014/04/17/supreme-court-nsa_n...
- cmdkeen 12y agoExcept, at least in the UK, judges have an ancient tradition of independence from the executive and maintain considerable power. Judges at all levels up to the Supreme Court regularly find against the government on all sorts of cases include national security ones. Attempting to intimidate a judge would be a shockingly risky thing to do, because if the judge complained it would probably bring down the Government - which is surprisingly easy thing to do if there's a major scandal with our Parliamentary system. Let alone that appeals are made in front of several judges the prospect of nobbling all of them seems remote to me. It's a conspiracy theory too far, in the UK at least.
- medecau 12y agoThe whole mass spying seemed like a conspiracy theory to most of us just few years ago.
- krapp 12y agoThe fact alone that a particular conspiracy theory turned out to be true doesn't automatically lend credence to others.
- njharman 12y agoYes it does. People dismiss conspiracy theories cause they're unbelievable. When previously unbelievable becomes true it lifts bar of unbelievable. Previous conspiracy theories now become possible even probable scenarios we must guard against.
- krapp 12y agoI don't think it does. People dismiss conspiracy theories because they're unbelievable and exist without any evidence to support them. The set of 'previous conspiracy theories' encompasses literally every assertion every paranoid has ever made about their government.