[atmosx]

> Lets take the Snowden case. He released tons of info regarding the US spying on it's own citizens, but how does that directly effect my life today? To put another way, how do I FEEL the day to day impact of these programs? The answer is simple, I don't.

That's a shame because you're in a position to understand what is at stake here. But you don't care and when you'll do, it will most likely too late.

This masterpiece was written by a pastor, Martin Niemöller for the raise of Nazi Germany:

First they came for the Socialists, and I did not speak out because I was not a Socialist. Then they came for the Trade Unionists, and I did not speak out because I was not a Trade Unionist. Then they came for the Jews, and I did not speak out because I was not a Jew. Then they came for me and there was no one left to speak for me.

IMHO this poem applies in every case were we are able to understand the repercussions of some actions, but we choose not to take action because.

By taking action I don't mean take on the streets and protest (that's good too of course), but the very least techies should do in my opinion is to create awareness about the dangers that high-tech, state-level surveillance can bring to a democratic society.

[lostcolony]

He was speaking from a hypothetical "I". As in, "this is the implicit rationale that many US citizens have", not "this is my own rationale". Not sure if you realized that given you're tailoring your reply to him, not to those people who act under that rationale.

[atmosx]

No, I did not. Thanks for pointing that out.

[lostcolony]

No worries.

[andruby]

Thanks for the poem. We all need to be reminded about this more often.

[shitgoose]

"... and there was no one left to speak for me"

it may sound terrible, but one shouldn't put one's life into hands of Socialist and Trade Unionists, who might "speak" for us. one should possess a firearm and be able to defend one's life and freedom.