That's a false choice. There are many other options.
- NSA with real teeth in the provisions for "don't spy on US citizens", or lying about same.
- NSA with effective, non-crony oversight.
- NSA with less influence over cryptographic research (maybe we need to split out crypto into an arm of the government that isn't involve in intelligence activities. NIST might be a good choice).
- NSA absolutely forbidden to "back door" US designed hardware and software.
There are lots of choices other than "You can have the NSA we have today, or you can be roadkill." (It's also unclear that the "OMG terrorist" argument is valid -- like "think of the children," I'm pretty sick of unexamined arguments that appear to be rooted in creating fear).
- NSA with real teeth in the provisions for "don't spy on US citizens", or lying about same.
- NSA with effective, non-crony oversight.
- NSA with less influence over cryptographic research (maybe we need to split out crypto into an arm of the government that isn't involve in intelligence activities. NIST might be a good choice).
- NSA absolutely forbidden to "back door" US designed hardware and software.
There are lots of choices other than "You can have the NSA we have today, or you can be roadkill." (It's also unclear that the "OMG terrorist" argument is valid -- like "think of the children," I'm pretty sick of unexamined arguments that appear to be rooted in creating fear).