Security is our new state religion. Bow down and submit!

[edward777]

"...a known National Security Agency whistleblower Thomas Andrews Drake told RT, adding that in the US, security has become a state religion."

http://www.rt.com/news/america-surve...ety-drake-697/

Truly scary. I talked with a friend who has lived outside the USA for the last ten years and she said that she does not recognize the USA anymore. I believe lots of ex-pats feel this way and that's sad.

[DU Ute]

"...a known National Security Agency whistleblower Thomas Andrews Drake told RT, adding that in the US, security has become a state religion."

http://www.rt.com/news/america-surve...ety-drake-697/

Truly scary. I talked with a friend who has lived outside the USA for the last ten years and she said that she does not recognize the USA anymore. I believe lots of ex-pats feel this way and that's sad.

LOL. No one is getting executed. Remain calm.

[myboynoah]

"...a known National Security Agency whistleblower Thomas Andrews Drake told RT, adding that in the US, security has become a state religion."

http://www.rt.com/news/america-surve...ety-drake-697/

Truly scary. I talked with a friend who has lived outside the USA for the last ten years and she said that she does not recognize the USA anymore. I believe lots of ex-pats feel this way and that's sad.

And where does this friend live, who pines so for the USA that used to be?

I don't know what the big deal is anyway. This is for national security and going after bad guys. When things are concealed, it is usually for a reason, and more often than not, one is right to assume that reason is not benign.

[Uncle Ted]

LOL. No one is getting executed.* Remain calm.

FIFY.


*Other than those on Obama's kill list.

[edward777]

And where does this friend live, who pines so for the USA that used to be?

I don't know what the big deal is anyway. This is for national security and going after bad guys. When things are concealed, it is usually for a reason, and more often than not, one is right to assume that reason is not benign.

So the Bill of Rights is somewhat outdated huh?

By the way, in Russia they have problems with terrorists, by some accounts funded, or at least initially funded, by the USA and they do not have naked body scanners and people sticking their hands down people's pants.

As for ex pats I also recall a journalist friend of mine who stayed a year as an exchange student in the Mid West. He said the family came to visit him in Europe during Christmas and also said the US was evolving into a pretty scary place in regards to the police state. There is definitely a mood growing in the US that resents this and I can assure you that this is not something confined to some Birkenstock wearing "progressives" in Oregon. Many who may have been hard-core patriots only a few years ago are beginning to freak out about it.

[edward777]

Again, Thomas Drake, former employee of NSA, discusses what has happened since 9-11:

[nomedia="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MAYrVarn_MY"]Thomas Drake: '9/11 Became a Profit Center' for the NSA - YouTube[/nomedia]

[Uncle Ted]

Again, Thomas Drake, former employee of NSA, discusses what has happened since 9-11:

Thomas Drake: '9/11 Became a Profit Center' for the NSA - YouTube

I recently picked up a copy of James Bamford's 3rd NSA book and have been trying to find the time to read it...

[ame="http://www.amazon.com/The-Shadow-Factory-Eavesdropping-America/dp/0307279391/ref=la_B000APPIUM_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1341918752&sr=1-1"]Amazon.com: The Shadow Factory: The NSA from 9/11 to the Eavesdropping on America (9780307279392): James Bamford: Books@@AMEPARAM@@http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/51PIGPyBGAL.@@AMEPARAM@@51PIGPyBGAL[/ame]

I have read his previous two books. It is amazing how much money goes to the NSA. I am not complaining, however, given that I am a benefactor of some of that money.

[Tim]

"...a known National Security Agency whistleblower Thomas Andrews Drake told RT, adding that in the US, security has become a state religion."

http://www.rt.com/news/america-surve...ety-drake-697/

Truly scary. I talked with a friend who has lived outside the USA for the last ten years and she said that she does not recognize the USA anymore. I believe lots of ex-pats feel this way and that's sad.

I believe you're wrong. There may be some of them, but my experience living abroad showed something completely different. Pretty much every American I knew still had a very strong relationship with the US, with the rest (a small minority) being somewhat apathetic.

Sounds like doom-n-gloom is your new personal religion.

[Moliere]

By the way, in Russia they have problems with terrorists, by some accounts funded, or at least initially funded, by the USA and they do not have naked body scanners and people sticking their hands down people's pants.

I continue to be amazed by the "security" that is in place for airports. For me to get on a 50 passenger plane and fly to SLC it's an incredible pain. However, every morning I get on a 50 passenger bus for a 30 minute drive into downtown and there is no security whatsoever. Anyone could bring anything onto that bus undetected. I'm not saying the same level security is appropriate for a bus as opposed to a plane (honestly the same # of lives are at stake) but it's ridiculous that we let our fears control us so much. When you couple the fear of flying (yes, a lot of people have this) and the fear or terrorism you get some pretty whacky security measures.

[Colly Wolly]

The Federales want to see me dead. N****s put prices on my head. Now I got two Rottweilers by my bed. I feed 'em lead.

[TripletDaddy]

When things are concealed, it is usually for a reason, and more often than not, one is right to assume that reason is not benign.

Weighing in on church finances, i see.

[kimchicoug]

I've been listening on the way to work to this podcast: Dan Carlin's Common Sense and he agrees with you. Although he just calls it straight up corruption.

I'm not sure I agree, but it was definitely interesting to here him argue that Watergate couldn't happen today due to the new security laws.

[myboynoah]

I continue to be amazed by the "security" that is in place for airports. For me to get on a 50 passenger plane and fly to SLC it's an incredible pain. However, every morning I get on a 50 passenger bus for a 30 minute drive into downtown and there is no security whatsoever. Anyone could bring anything onto that bus undetected. I'm not saying the same level security is appropriate for a bus as opposed to a plane (honestly the same # of lives are at stake) but it's ridiculous that we let our fears control us so much. When you couple the fear of flying (yes, a lot of people have this) and the fear or terrorism you get some pretty whacky security measures.

[DU Ute]

FIFY.


*Other than those on Obama's kill list.

Those are assassinations, not executions, so it's all cool.

[taekwondave]

Weighing in on church finances, i see.