The explanation is simple for me. They have brainwashed themselves. One of the most selective criteria for working there is patriotism and unquestioned loyalty to the country, this includes people who love and swear they support the Constitution.
So how do they end up sucking up tons of data from all over the internet, filtering and storing it (which includes private data of US citizens) -- easy, it is justified as fighting terrorism and protecting our country.
There is a story one needs to tell oneself continuously in order to maintain and support this brainwashing. These are stories that NSA tells itself (public is concerned but they have nothing to worry, we know we don't want to harm them, we are here to protect them).
Pretty sure if you asked those who conducted tortured at the CIA, they'd also tell you they are devout patriots and did what the did to protect the Country, the Constitution, the Flag and everything that stands behind it.
"One of the most selective criteria for working there is patriotism and unquestioned loyalty to the country, this includes people who love and swear they support the Constitution."
Did you work in HR at NSA/CIA or is this how you guess things work?
The background investigation helps determine the applicant's honesty, trustworthiness, reliability, discretion, and unquestioned loyalty to the United States.
Loyalty and blind obedience are not necessarily the same thing. I'm fond of Carl Schurz's aphorism: “My country, right or wrong; if right, to be kept right; and if wrong, to be set right.”
What am I being obtuse about and why are you talking about selective and biased reasoning? The aspect of the comment I was responding to was "One of the most selective criteria." Do you know what the most selective hiring criteria is for TS/SCI work?
Instead of beating around the bush, why don't you tell us what agency you work for, what department and what is the most selective criteria to TS work.
So how do they end up sucking up tons of data from all over the internet, filtering and storing it (which includes private data of US citizens) -- easy, it is justified as fighting terrorism and protecting our country.
There is a story one needs to tell oneself continuously in order to maintain and support this brainwashing. These are stories that NSA tells itself (public is concerned but they have nothing to worry, we know we don't want to harm them, we are here to protect them).
Pretty sure if you asked those who conducted tortured at the CIA, they'd also tell you they are devout patriots and did what the did to protect the Country, the Constitution, the Flag and everything that stands behind it.