Civil Liberties

See my lengthy post and popular read (going on 4000 views at this point) which I wrote in the "National Security and Defense" section of DU some time ago about the persecution I experienced and still experience in Canada. I have made it my duty to spread the facts of my circumstance Internationally as I have zero recourse in a country like Canada. Which, btw, has our own CIA equivalent operating ONLY against their own citizens (by law). Imagine how Americans would feel dealing with that apparatus? Does it sound democratic to have your own citizens spying on one another for personal wealth, career gain and budget increases?

My story explains the risks of what I would call placing sensitive powers and information into the hands of some who may not concern themselves with the true protection of the state. As a more specific example, if this same NSA program was being run by the NYPD I would absolutely be wary, as I have experienced first hand how vindictive, spiteful and immoral undercover police can be, this from Toronto at that. Police in uniform are an entirely different story altogether; undercovers operate with little oversight and accountability. The NSA at least has to report to the American government. This is vastly different in that respect.

I don't know much about the NSA except that I once read a book about a former Stasi agent, this book was written in the 1990's I believe and he stated hands down at that time that no intelligence agency was most effective at intelligence collection than the NSA, and that was over 20 years ago...and he said it wasn't even close. He said they were so entrenched that every nation on the earth was providing information to them and they didn't even know they were providing such information and a defense was non-existent. Sounds like an agency and capability I want on my side rather than in the hands of the enemy. This is why I cannot support what Snowden did, as it doesn't pass the smell test in my opinion, but who knows for sure? That is a debate for another day.

So, the concept that, "hey, just trust us, we are good people" doesn't fly with me now, it would have 10 years ago but not after experiencing what I experienced in Canada. That being said I have no problem with the possibility that someone might have listened to what I wrote and said at some point in my life...as long as there are responsible people dealing with "truth" and awareness and not b.s, assumption and subjective application. As long as there aren't people out there looking for revenge or to create an enemy for their budgets or some petty revenge for their own illegal acts (something I suggest has happened to me). How can anyone be sure that an agency has the most trustworthy, loyal and honest people in their ranks? That's the most difficult aspect of this argument to overcome. In the end though, would you rather the U.S have the NSA program to protect your country or not? Not an easy question to answer, especially if you are a proponent of minimal government intervention in the mundane lives of its citizens.