> We all know it's stupidly common for the government to monitor it's civilians.
Here's your problem. The fact that many people do something does not make it right -- it's a logical fallacy / conflation and it seems our brains are very vulnerable to it. Is it really so hard to believe that many people are wrong? Why does quantity equal quality?
I mean, it was very common to have slaves as well. Did that make it okay for the slaves?
> Here's your problem. The fact that many people do something does not make it right
I didn't once say it was right. In fact, I alluded to me being against it.
However, that doesn't change the fact that if you are tasked with protecting a state, it's the effective (but morally wrong) choice to monitor them.
My comment was simply that, like it or not, if you truly had 100% vision over the population you'd be able to protect them. In the same way a dictator could be far more effective than a democracy. Again, since ya'll will love to jump on me over this, I'm not supporting this.
I'm saying it's simply complicated. If the NSA is a good actor (I already said I don't believe them to be), then they are being asked to "protect" the country while flying blind. At least, that's what some people want.
.. again, I'm not defending them. I am in full support of all things crypto, and do not want any rights on any civilian to be trampled on.
Ya'll are touchy.
edit:
> Is it really so hard to believe that many people are wrong? Why does quantity equal quality?
I don't know, perhaps you should ask someone who said that? Ie, not me, because I didn't say that. Again.
Sorry for misunderstanding. And nope, not touchy in this case. More like -- I get it where are they coming from but apparently people don't share the sentiment so find another way; we pay taxes for them to figure out stuff and make it happen, not to play eternal game of cat and mouse with their own citizens.
Yea, I agree. I guess it's just that I can sympathize with their position (again, for the sake of argument assuming they are good actors..).
I was also way too vague. A better thing to talk around would have been warrants, and how our legal system is designed to ensure government can invade your privacy assuming reasonable requirements.. yet crypto changes that game entirely.
I definitely don't want the government invading my privacy, and I want true secure crypto in all things. I just can sympathize with how much this is going to change things.. some for better, and some for worst.
Here's your problem. The fact that many people do something does not make it right -- it's a logical fallacy / conflation and it seems our brains are very vulnerable to it. Is it really so hard to believe that many people are wrong? Why does quantity equal quality?
I mean, it was very common to have slaves as well. Did that make it okay for the slaves?