[lifeisstillgood]

I have to call you out on this one. I disagree with Andreessen's statement on Snowden, but it is not an unreasonable position to hold (he did steal secrets and he did damage the capability and reputation of the US in revealing them. I just happen to think he was right to do so)

I suspect I also disagree with Andresseen on provision of comprehensive public healthcare (I am a product of the NHS) and gun control and many other political issues - all of which it is possible to have reasonable people disagree reasonably on.

Just because he holds a different view on this issue to most tech sector, does not make him a bozo. If anything, the potential danger Snowden has alerted us to is the ability of the Administration to shut down political discourse and disagreement through superior knowledge of our lives - ironically we should embrace statements like Andreesseens as something that can and should be openly discussed.

[CamperBob2]

I hear what you're saying, but I believe that anyone who condemns Snowden's crimes while saying nothing about those of Alexander and Clapper is ethically challenged at best. Snowden arguably betrayed his government, while Clapper and Alexander committed offenses of even greater magnitude against the American people. If Andreessen has a beef with anyone, it's with the latter two people.

I personally find it difficult to believe that Snowden's revelations weren't already old news to the influential foreign business and political leaders that are the target of Andreessen's concern trolling. Snowden's sin was bringing the knowledge down the mountain to the rest of us.

[lifeisstillgood]

It's part of this strange double standard we have for spies - their guys are liars, our guys are cunning. Once upon a time "our" meant "our country". Today it seems to mean "our values". I think that's an improvement.

And to be honest I think Chancellor Merkel, who by all definitions should be cynical as hell, was genuinely shocked by the Stasi like extent of PRISM et al. So I think Snowden did reveal, in convincing ways, that the NSA had gone far far beyond what many thought practical and most thought sane. No matter how cynical a business leader you might be a small part of you thought "everyone" did not really mean everyone till Snowden