General Discussion
In reply to the discussion: This is not about Obama or Snowden, this is about the corporate takeover of our democracy [View all]Swede Atlanta
(3,596 posts)You have hit on the things about these revelations that are the most disturbing to me....
(1) The sheer amount of un-targeted data that is being collected
The NSA is simply using a huge vacuum to amass unimaginable volumes of data on all forms of electronic communication. The revelations so far have focused on electronic communication such as telephone calls, e-mails, etc. Apparently there are more revelations coming that wouldn't surprise me to show warehousing of all kinds of other information such as bank records, miles driven on a licensed car, financial records, medical records, etc.
(2) The entrenched power and self-perpetuating importance of the NSA
They, like the military-industry complex, have taken on a self-fulfilling sense of importance that considers any challenge or question of their practices, abuses, etc. as being equal to treason. They are not subject to any meaningful oversight by Congress because the rules of oversight mean that anything a member of Congress MAY (and that is a big assumption they will actually learn anything meaningful) about their operations must remain silent, i.e. the Member may be prosecuted for treason and espionage if they reveal anything.
(3) The entire system is largely run by private companies
The vast majority of people involved in the mass collection, storage and mining of this data are employed by private corporations. This not only means that the data is even more readily available to others in the 1% but these corporations are not bound by any 4th Amendment limitations. They might be guilty of other crimes if the data is misused but they are not subject to the 4th Amendment. So the NSA has effectively shielded itself from any 4th Amendment concerns by just hiring private individuals to do their dirty work.