More on the spying thing

There are two very distinct sides in the issue of governments spying on it's citizens.   They can both be pretty silly.  On the one hand, you have those who say the government has no right to put anyone under surveillance at any time period.  On the other, people are saying that we need to let the government do what it has to do to defend our nation no matter what rights that may violate.

Regardless of whether or not you think Snowden is a revolutionary or a double agent who was on China's payroll, you have to more practical than this.

Whether you like it or not, we don't live in a friendly world.  We live in a world where a lot of people want to do bad things to us.  We live in a world where governments are fighting each other over pretty much everything.   We have terrorists among us right here in the US.  The Boston marathon bombing was proof of that.  So to be reasonable,  we need someone to look out for us.  We need people to do the dirty work that keeps us safe.  Part of that is going to involve surveillance on American soil and abroad and that means running the risk that someone completely innocent of wrong doing may end up in a surveillance video or have their phone conversation temporarily listened in on.  The question we have to ask is, is our safety worth it?  If you like the idea of foiling would be suicide bombers, you have your answer.

But another question to ask is what crosses the line?   The answer to that is simple.   Surveillance of people for no other reason than because you can crosses the line.   It's one thing to spy on someone you have credible evidence (or at least reasonable doubt that could stand up in court) of doing something that threatens national security.  It's another to spy on the random blogger because you don't like their message.   There needs to be rules that govern when it is appropriate to spy on someone and when it isn't.

I don't claim to be an expert on spycraft (or even on knowing if spycraft is a real word).  I do know that powerful people need to be monitored.  Checks and balances keep us safe from over reaching authority. So, as difficult as it is to spread light in a world as dark as spying, and recognizing that congress isn't the most trustworthy of institutions,  it's all we got right now so it will have to do.

But I want to make a social point as well regarding the level of outrage from the public.   People,  you tweet about your sex lives.   You plaster Facebook with pictures of you, your kids, every one you meet. There are those of you who put unsuspecting people on YouTube without their permission because you thought it was funny.   Why are you just now concerned that people are seeing these things?  How can a people who place so little value on privacy in their personal lives really be that outraged that somewhere a voyeur may be enjoying watching it?  Do you have any right to be outraged?

Just had to get that off my chest.  Now I'm going to post this on my Facebook page.