Serious Question

[boston bean]

Are those who say they don't care the gov't is collecting their info, saying that out of fear because the gov't is collecting their info?

Maybe they don't want to have any unnecessary gov't focus on themselves.. like that would matter if the gov thought/decided they were a bad apple. Not that they were or are. I'm not saying that... but sometimes people would rather seem supportive so as not to get caught up in anything.

[1StrongBlackMan]

1. Alternate theory ...

Those saying they don't care about the government collecting their phone/internet data, are saying so because they don't care that the government is collecting their phone/internet data.

Place me in the alternate theory category.

[rucky]

2. The proper reaction

lies somewhere between not caring and completely freaking the fuck out.

[La Lioness Priyanka]

5. there is no point in freaking out. although i do thinks its unconstitutional

[sadbear]

3. I don't care and the NSA can go fuck itself at the same time.

Does that answer your question?

[La Lioness Priyanka]

4. or maybe they dont care because they trust obama but what happens in 2016

if someone we dont trust becomes president

[The Link]

6. They don't care. Blind love of a man...

outweighs concern for their country or fellow citizens.

[david13]

7. I have to chuckle.

Because I seem to be seeing here that a lot of people now realize it is not the Republicans. It is both of them.
And I also think it's worth a slight chuckle to see people who say, well if it's just the government it's ok if we give up all our rights, but if it's job shopped out to a private contractor, then it's all wrong.
What difference does it make? None, as I see it. And I have seen it for the last 12 years, including the years from 2008 to present date.
dc

[ProSense]

8. I don't

"Are those who say they don't care the gov't is collecting their info, saying that out of fear because the gov't is collecting their info? "

...want the government collecting my information, but I'm not going to join in the "is it fascism," "FEMA camps," "gun culture," "police state" rhetoric that has become jumbled in the mind of some people. Everything has to be a vast government conspiracy that must be met with subtle implications that the American people must rise up. They secretly dream of revolution and overthrowing the government. Yeah, government overreach should be kept in check, but I think people got high on the level of outrage sparked by Bush's illegal actions that they somehow can't dial it back. Some of it is because there are those who want to taint the Obama Presidency by constantly likening it to the Bush administration. Finally, the anti-government assholes are feeding off the fear mongering.

"Most significant" leak in history, and likely one of the dumbest.
http://www.democraticunderground.com/10022987178

[MissMarple]

10. You make a good point.

The people are overdue for a conversation about what is now " private".

[Summer Hathaway]

9. Just an observation, but

it seems that the people on DU who are freaking out over this are the same people who tend to freak out over everything. Today it's metadata; tomorrow it will be something else. By this time next week, it will be something else again.

Serious alternate questions:

Do some people just live in a constant state of paranoia, where they feel compelled to convince others that their perpetual state of fear is justified?

Do some people actually relish their perceived role as likely targets/victims of the government, because thinking of themselves as a potential target of gov't scrutiny makes them feel important?

Do some people jump on every bandwagon that other DUers are jumping on, just because they think it's 'cool' to be part of what they see as the anti-Obama, anti-government, anti-everything crowd?

The idea that anyone would say they don't care if the gov't is collecting their info out of fear that they'll be bring unneccessary "gov't focus on themselves" is ridiculous. Anyone who is THAT paranoid about posting their real thoughts on a message board would simply stop posting altogether, rather than run what they perceive to be a 'risk' of getting caught in the Big Bad Gubmint's headlights.

The paranoia of some posters here is totally out of control - and, yes, it is a matter of some of the louder inmates attempting to take over the asylum.

[marions ghost]

11. "They're hysterical"

--the new right wing sound bite of the week.

Move along, nothing to see here...right Summer?

[Summer Hathaway]

13. Oh, there's plenty to see ...

like the usual anti-Obama contingent thinking they've yet again found something to be hysterical about, along with watching people who never heard of Snowden before 48 hours ago declaring him a saint.

The fact that his own resume is full of inconsistencies? For many here, THAT is a matter of "nothing to see here, let's all move along."

[marions ghost]

15. Garbage

I'm not anti-Obama. I am against this sweeping data mining policy of the US government. No matter who it involves or who has supported it.

As Jonathan Turley said, and these latest revelations prove, Osama Bin Laden has won. Democracy is dead in America.

Democracy is dead in America. That is what people do not want to see.

You make me laugh with "his resume is full of inconsistencies." Whatever. Doesn't change the fact of what he has brought to light, and the implications of this surveillance. It is a national dialogue that is long overdue.

I can only conclude that you care nothing about individual freedoms and are fine with a government that is invading privacy far worse than the Russians ever did.

The two journalists are equally as important in this as Snowden. Without their credibility, he wouldn't have much support. He certainly would have no other viable way to air his concerns.

[Summer Hathaway]

17. You can conclude

whatever the fuck you want to conclude - about me, or anyone here, or anything else. Your conclusions are of no consequence to me.

[marions ghost]

19. Democracy is dead in America

Dead. Light the candles for the wake.

I know that people like you won't see it. Not everyone has what it takes to overcome delusions, even in the face of new information. Democracy in America is dead, and your attitude also tells me that is true.

The American people can't even see when their leaders apply chains to them in the name of "safety." It's an old story but the degree of control possible is very new, very dangerous.

I am sure that nothing I say will be of consequence to closed minds, yours or anyone else's. Because your reaction is the essence, the perfect definition, of a closed mind.

[Summer Hathaway]

20. You're right.

"Not everyone has what it takes to overcome delusions."

You might want to think about that in terms of yourself.

[SidDithers]

18. Nailed it...

The word naive comes to mind.

Sid

[nadinbrzezinski]

12. Yes...that is one of the reactions in a police state

Can't do a thing, don't make waves, retreat...and live another day.

This is a classic historically and Americans are not different.

Some think they got a more nuanced view and a few do...but for the most part this is the case. It s driven by despair.

[marions ghost]

16. "It is driven by despair"

ABSOLUTELY.

Bowing down to clear government over-reach, and accepting a serious loss of basic rights = a downtrodden mentality.

We are in a state of depression that is economic but also--mass psychology speaking--a national depression in our collective psyche. That works real well for the PTB.

[DevonRex]

14. No.

I have some experience in the field. And I made a concerted effort to find out exactly what has been happening. I am not concerned about the programs as long as constant changes are made to the safeguards. They can't be set in stone. They have to change irregularly. And there has to be bipartisan oversight and court approval.

Some things I wrote today:
http://election.democraticunderground.com/10022986995#post61
http://www.democraticunderground.com/10022989031#post14

This does not mean I don't have any concerns whatsoever. There is always someone trying to get around safeguards, as this leak clearly shows. Personally, I believe there are too many private contractors in the mix. I never liked them when I was in MI. None of us did. They made us very uncomfortable. And I have no idea how Snowden got where he is. I do know he isn't telling the truth about several things. And he should know those are easily found out. So what's that about? Once again, this is an extremely uncomfortable situation.

[pipi_k]

21. If they are...

then it's pretty foolish.

Sort of like someone having a meth lab in their basement and they say in the presence of anyone whom they fear might bust them that they don't care if they're investigated, hoping to look innocent.

People usually don't avoid investigation based on head games.

[marions ghost]

22. that & other factors

in varying degrees--

--fear of govt intrusion makes people "behave" (& cast blame on others)

--naive about how it is being done & convinced it's for "keeping us safe" from the bad guys

--downtrodden mentality in general, as nadin points out. Despair breeds delusion.

I think we are close to not having anything resembling Democracy in America anymore. This uncertainty makes people accept the clandestine activity because really they WANT to trust. Someone. Something.

Laurie Anderson nailed the conflicted emotional state of blind fear/blind trust.

So hold me, Mom, in your long arms.
Your petrochemical arms. Your military arms.
In your electronic arms.