[this_user]

The surveillance state is already here, we have let it happen and it is unlikely to go away ever again. I think we should instead refocus the discussion. The question is not anymore how to prevent the surveillance state, but how to best live in a world like this.

[normloman]

That's an unproductive, defeatist argument. You could say that about any problem facing humanity today. It just amounts to an excuse to do nothing.

Let's instead start a discussion about shrinking the surveillance state, with the goal of one day overturning it. Even though the odds are against us. Because you gotta draw the line somewhere.