Major Opinion Shifts, in the US and Congress, on NSA Surveillance and Privacy

[99th_Monkey]

Major Opinion Shifts, in the US and Congress, on NSA Surveillance and Privacy
Pew finds that, for the first time since 9/11, Americans are now more worried
about civil liberties abuses than terrorism
Monday, July 29, 2013 * The Guardian * by Glenn Greenwald

Numerous polls taken since our reporting on previously secret NSA activities first began have strongly suggested major public opinion shifts in how NSA surveillance and privacy are viewed. But a new comprehensive poll released over the weekend weekend by Pew Research provides the most compelling evidence yet of how stark the shift is.

Among other things, Pew finds that "a majority of Americans – 56% – say that federal courts fail to provide adequate limits on the telephone and internet data the government is collecting as part of its anti-terrorism efforts." And "an even larger percentage (70%) believes that the government uses this data for purposes other than investigating terrorism." Moreover, "63% think the government is also gathering information about the content of communications." That demonstrates a decisive rejection of the US government's three primary defenses of its secret programs: there is adequate oversight; we're not listening to the content of communication; and the spying is only used to Keep You Safe™.

But the most striking finding is this one:

"Overall, 47% say their greater concern about government anti-terrorism policies is that they have gone too far in restricting the average person's civil liberties, while 35% say they are more concerned that policies have not gone far enough to protect the country. This is the first time in Pew Research polling that more have expressed concern over civil liberties than protection from terrorism since the question was first asked in 2004."
For anyone who spent the post-9/11 years defending core liberties against assaults relentlessly perpetrated in the name of terrorism, polling data like that is nothing short of shocking. This Pew visual underscores what a radical shift has occurred from these recent NSA disclosures:

[KoKo]

1. Recommend....!

[Bragi]

2. Can DU sentiment be far behind?

A joke. Sort of.

[quinnox]

3. wow, big K&R! All thanks to Snowden and Greenwald

A few brave and noble men, indeed, can change the world.

[Zorra]

4. See? Definitive proof that both Greenwald and Snowden are traitors.

If they had not exposed this problem, no one would have known or cared.

Now look at all the time, money, and effort that needs to be put into putting out mass propaganda in order to convince everyone that we will all be so much better off living in a more authoritarian RW surveillance state.


Those pinko democratic liberals are such a nuisance!

[99th_Monkey]

5. I share your outrage

I'm sure glad someone (NSA) is keeping an eye on "them" (Greenwald & Snowden),
to "keep us safe"

[winter is coming]

6. Rapid response PR arriving in 3... 2... 1... n/t

[WillyT]

7. K & R !!!