12th December 2013, 4:46 AM
Damn, you beat me to the punch with that Mitchell & Webb skit.
I suppose the ODNI might as well embrace it. Americans are outragedbut enough to do anything but squawk about it? Is this an actual campaign issue? When was the last time this came up in debate in recent history? The last I remember is the FISA debacle in the 2008 presidental elections, where I think Obama first came out against it, and then in a true Obama fashion, backpedalled. Even then, it was hardly a big sticking point, lost in the noise about the economy and government spending.
Even so, it IS an interesting debate to have, namely privacy vs. security. Most of us wouldn't know about our privacy being invaded and it doesn't impact our lives. Also, I believe we do get actual tangible evidence and targets for terrorist networks. Neither of these things make it right, of course. Perhaps we would be better off removing ourselves from these affairs, than inserting ourselves (and drones) into the foreign fray.
But then, the moment you back down, you'd have the right screaming about how WE'RE COWARDS THAT ARE LITERALLY INVITING SCARY ARABS TO COME BLOW US UP. And we do have our middle east allies to think of. But still, civil liberties are a very basic right that shouldn't be brushed aside. It isn't worth it to sell these out, and the Obama administration is just as cuplable as its predecessor.
It's kind of a pragmatist vs. idealist scenario. I wonder if I'll feel the same way in 5 years.
I suppose the ODNI might as well embrace it. Americans are outragedbut enough to do anything but squawk about it? Is this an actual campaign issue? When was the last time this came up in debate in recent history? The last I remember is the FISA debacle in the 2008 presidental elections, where I think Obama first came out against it, and then in a true Obama fashion, backpedalled. Even then, it was hardly a big sticking point, lost in the noise about the economy and government spending.
Even so, it IS an interesting debate to have, namely privacy vs. security. Most of us wouldn't know about our privacy being invaded and it doesn't impact our lives. Also, I believe we do get actual tangible evidence and targets for terrorist networks. Neither of these things make it right, of course. Perhaps we would be better off removing ourselves from these affairs, than inserting ourselves (and drones) into the foreign fray.
But then, the moment you back down, you'd have the right screaming about how WE'RE COWARDS THAT ARE LITERALLY INVITING SCARY ARABS TO COME BLOW US UP. And we do have our middle east allies to think of. But still, civil liberties are a very basic right that shouldn't be brushed aside. It isn't worth it to sell these out, and the Obama administration is just as cuplable as its predecessor.
It's kind of a pragmatist vs. idealist scenario. I wonder if I'll feel the same way in 5 years.