[rosser]

But the full quote would mitigate the raging hate-on the grandparent is sporting.

Yes, the USA Freedom Act is limited. Yes, it doesn't change all the things we'd all like to see changed. "The perfect is the enemy of the good." It's at least movement in the right direction. Let's try celebrating that, instead of (or at least along with) bitching that it's not movement far enough.

[shit_parade2]

And bad is brother of worse.

Slogans are easy, what's hard is recognizing the difference between political theater and meaningful change.

America is tumbling into the abyss of tyranny and people celebrate.

[rosser]

I'm not saying "Yay tyranny!" and to characterize my position thusly is, frankly, shitty discourse.

I'm saying, "Ooh, look: teeny, tiny step back from the level of tyranny we had yesterday. Nice!" I would hope anyone who hates tyranny would see merit in that.

Now, yes, if that's all we get, then being pissed and — more importantly, doing something about it — is warranted. But I choose to look at this as a first step, while you and others appear to regard it as appeasement and a pat on the head.

Not much I can do for you there.

[shit_parade2]

When you celebrate political theater that reaffirms the status quo with some window dressing you are essentially saying "yay, tyranny".

Dismissing criticism with a flippant "perfect is the enemy of the good" is lazy and thoughtless.

The government has shown no interest in curtailing the vast surveillance apparatus it has built, nor does it show interest in investigating its own abuses of such power.

When people praise such drivel as the freedom act it only sets us all back on the road to tyranny. So yeah, your perspective is detrimental to improving the dire circumstances we find ourselves.

[rosser]

If all I'd said was the quip you quoted, your position might have merit. Instead, you're selectively quoting my rather measured comment and calling me "lazy and thoughtless".

Thanks.

EDIT: You know what I think has people the most pissed off in all of this? That their illusions about America having been a particularly "free" country in the first place are being shattered.

I'm reminded of nothing quite so much as the virulence I've seen in former, incredibly ardent Obama supporters, when they realized how much of a tool he actually was.

Those of us who knew he was a tool from the beginning? Not so pissed when his true colors came out.

(And, no, I'm not a Republican, nor a Libertarian. I just realized a long time ago how corrupt the American political process is, and engage with it with that principle in mind.)

[fourply]

It's unconstitutional. Of course I have a raging hate-on - I believe in the rule of law.

[rayiner]

Phone metadata collection is Constitutional under Smith v. Maryland.