[xdennis]

> what's the deal with making the distinction between domestic mass surveillance and foreign mass surveillance?

A large portion of Americans believe in "citizen rights", not "human rights". By that logic, non-Americans do not have a right to privacy.

[esafak]

This contradicts the opening of the Declaration of Independence, which recognizes all humans as possessing rights:

"We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness."

[lazide]

Lots of lofty goals have been written on paper - when people take them seriously, they are even worth something.

The pendulum swings.