Let's try this: Do you live or work in an internationally known city & how do you feel about NSA?

[apples and oranges]

I had a revelation after I saw the ladies of The View defend the NSA. Bill Maher also seemed to be in support of the NSA. Maybe the difference of opinion on how far national security should go breaks down, not along ideological lines, but based on the perceived likelihood of an attack occuring in one's town.

Are Americans who live in well known, large metropolitan areas or tourist attractions more likely to be neutral or pro NSA? The View is filmed in NYC, Maher lives in LA, congress operates in DC, and clearly those are all cities that would be on the radar of someone looking to hurt a lot of people. Many democrats signed on to the patriot act, and Obama didn't veto it because he was likely thinking about his own family's safety in DC.

On the other hand, if you live in Surprise! Arizona or something, where the likelihood of a 911 or Boston style attack is close to 0, maybe it's easier to take the "I'd rather be attacked than have metadata collected" stance. Thoughts?

[Wait Wut]

1. Interesting question.

I think the demographics of those areas would be key. Urban areas tend to be Democratic, rural Republican.

I'm originally from Chicago, but now live in a smallish city 2 hours north of Phx. My opinion of the government (NSA included) hasn't changed. At times a 'necessary evil' at others 'democracy'. I don't think my opinion of the NSA has anything to do with my fear of a terrorist attack. I still have family/friends in big cities, but believe the chances are pretty far out (because of the NSA??? ).

Honestly, you'd probably have to hypnotize me to find out why I support our government and all her extremities. Misguided patriotism? Upbringing? Love of politics and all things political/governmental? I really don't know. A mix, more than likely.

But, it has nothing to do with fear of terrorism. Weird, huh? I have zero fear of my government, as well. Well, at least now I have zero fear. If you had asked 8 years ago...nah. Wasn't scared of him either.

[Squinch]

2. I commute daily into NYC. And I think the NSA needs to cut this shit out.

It isn't as if there was no intelligence available to warn of 9/11. There were briefings. They just weren't heeded. And that was without the government being able to go back and go through all my communications if they ever feel a reason to.

As others have said, this is a boondoggle for the Carlyle group folks of the world. And the Carlyle group folks are becoming really very frightening in their oligarchical world power grab.

That being said, I am also one of the people who is surprised that people are up in arms about it now. I thought they should have been up in arms when it first came to light years ago.

[octoberlib]

3. Bill Maher said he trusts the program under Obama but

he would NOT trust it or want it under President Ted Cruz. This is the problem.

[Aerows]

4. I'm not okay with it

Right now, I live in the virtual sticks, but I've lived in major metropolitan cities (and I've traveled everywhere). My opinion wouldn't change if I lived in a fortified bunker in even further sticks land.