Re NSA, let's saying hearings are held and legislation enacted

[matt819]

Let's say hearings are held on the NSA domestic surveillance programs, a la the Church and Pike hearings of the late 70s/early 80s.

And let's say that guidelines are put in place to govern such activites.

Next, let's say Alan Grayson's legislation is enacted and signed into law.

And, finally, let's say various courts, maybe even the Supreme Court, rule that such activities are unconstitutional.


Does anyone here really believe that there will be any curtailment of these activities? There are tens of thousands of people in the government and contractor intelligence community. That beast must be fed. Contracts are at stake. Technologies are begging to be used.

Look, I'm not saying there shouldn't be an uproar. But this genie is out of the bottle.

[orpupilofnature57]

1. We can't say we weren't warned by someone in the Biz.

[Marrah_G]

2. I was going to answer with your very last sentence

But you beat me to it.

Once power is obtained it is nearly impossible to have it given back.

[matt819]

4. It's not even the issue of power

I agree with your point, but I think it goes beyond that.

Sure, once the tools are available and the power exercised, I can't really see a president saying thanks but not thanks. If nothing else, how is a president going to respond when he shuts down and program and a terrorist attack happens?

But more than that, the intelligence industry complex has grown astronomically in the past decade, and there's too much at stake to mothball it or curtail it. Too much money is at stake and too many jobs. Congress is bought and paid for, and they are not about to cut off the hands that feed them. After all, for those who choose not to run again or who are voted out of office are not about to go back to their used car business is East Bumfuck. Cabinet secretaries have CEO jobs awaiting them at all the intelligence and military contractors, and they are not going to jeopardize those easy transitions.

[Marrah_G]

5. It's all beginning to feel like one of those scifi movies.

[think]

3. Yes I do.

Right now our own elected US Senators can't tell us when the NSA violates the law without getting permission because the rulings of the FISA court are classified.

This to me is just plain spooky. We can do better than this....