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[HooptieWagon]

4. In another thread, a DUer posted a link...

sorry, don't have it at hand. But the govt is supposed to file annual reports on categories of NSA wiretap purposes. In 2011, the most recent year available, 85% of the wiretaps were for drug-related crimes. The govt refuses to release 2012 figures, I can only speculate its because a sizeable number of wiretaps were of Occupy, Keystone XL protestors axnd the like.
Furthermore, considering the Boston Bomber's presence on social media sites, and that the govt was warned about them by the Russians, you would think wiretapping them and perhaps preventing the Marathon bombings would be a no-brainer. It didn't happen.
Thus, a reasonable person can only conclude that the NSA surveillence program is not being used (nor was it designed to be used) as a terrorism attack prevention tool. Its being used for common crime (like busting pot-smoking cancer grannies), and probably groups protesting government policies. This is a far overreach of the stated purpose of the Patriot Act, is outside the jurisdiction of the FISA Court, and is in violation of the 1st and 4th Amendments. The entire program should be put on hold until adequate measures of oversight axnd transparency are installed.