You are supposing that they are separate/independent failings when in reality they are linked. The way the government and the media demonized Snowden and fed t

You are supposing that they are separate/independent failings when in reality they are linked. The way the government and the media demonized Snowden and fed the public misinformation was designed to get people to not care about this issue. By attacking Snowden and misrepresenting the facts (such as congressmen claiming he was certainly working for foreign intelligence agencies), they muddied the waters and left people confused and consequently apathetic.