[Ar-Curunir]

Legality != Morality. Some of the NSA surveillance is legal; that does not make it ethical.

[0xfeba]

I think that's his point. A better example would be slavery. Since it was legal at some point, was it then ethical?

[sireat]

Depends on your sense of morals, I am sure there are many NSA employees who sleep well at night.

Many people follow what I call Godfather's I ethics. Vito Corleone cares about his family and friends and will do rather mean things to those who threaten the well being of those around him.

Tribalism has stayed with us over the millennia and is unlikely to go away any time soon.

[jessaustin]

The word "legal" is sort of meaningless for behavior that is never observed by legal authorities.

Also, see irony.