Can meaningful surveillance reform pass the current Congress?

[Recursion]

Last edited Thu Aug 22, 2013, 04:12 AM - Edit history (1)

Do you think meaningful reform of the legal framework under which surveillance is conducted can pass the current Congress? And if so would that reform be better or worse?

2 votes, 2 passes | Time left: Unlimited
	Realistically nothing\'s going to pass before the mid-terms
	2 (100%)
	A bill that could improve the oversight process could pass this Congress
	0 (0%)
	A bill that would make the oversight process worse could pass this Congress
	0 (0%)
	Simply reforming the existing framework is not a desireable outcome
	0 (0%)
	2 DU members did not wish to select any of the options provided.
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[dtom67]

1. I did not vote because....

The question seems to imply that if we do not get reform, it will be because of the make up of this congress. I do not believe we would get real reform with transparent oversight from ANY congress, no matter who was running the show. Since my opinion was not an option, no vote.

[Egalitarian Thug]

2. Well said. +1

[Recursion]

6. Fair enough; I added #4 if that helps

If you'd like that differently worded let me know.

[woo me with science]

3. We do not need "reform" of surveillance of American citizens.

We need complete elimination of unconstitutional spying on Americans and revival of the Fourth Amendment.

Watch the next move by the oligarchy: Propose and ostentatiously take credit for decorative "reforms" around the edges of these spying programs, thereby entrenching and legitimizing the spying.

[Fearless]

5. +1

[Fearless]

4. Could, probably won't.

[joshcryer]

7. The Amash amendment didn't split among party lines.

Politically speaking it's terrifying: http://www.govtrack.us/congress/votes/113-2013/h412

As long as the party leaders on both sides support it, it's going to be very hard to override the vote, party leaders will simply keep making vote trades and secret deals with others in the Congress to keep it stalled.

Amash thinks he has the votes but I don't buy it with people like Pelosi voting against it.

Sickeningly, I think some of the top Dems aren't for it because defunding NSA's spying program would put some 35-50k+ spy agency workers, at the same level of Snowden, out of a job. There's also probably a concern that there are dozens of Snowdens waiting to drop data dumps if they lose their jobs. The US seriously fucked up this program epically.