On Spying on Ourselves

In recent news, the National Security Agency (N.S.A.) was called out for its activity of sifting through call and internet data (aka metadata) to determine patterns of calling and usage and, the thing that bugs us, perhaps looking more closely at people in those questionable patterns.  It's part of the continuing effort to prevent acts of terrorist violence against we who call the middle country of North America home.  That's the United States of America for those who failed geography.

I'm not sure which bothers us more, the fact that our country is looking at who we call and e-write to or the fact that they're doing it on the sly.  To address the first item, they're not looking at your phone bill specifically and likely don't care how many times you called your spouse, your kids, your work, your bookie, or even 1-800-BOOTYCALL.  Yes, I know it's one too many letters, you still get the idea.  Oh, and I made the number up -- I think. They're also not reading through your normal, stupid or torrid e-mails, although I think spammers should be given closer scrutiny, but only because I detest spam e-mail.

Their analysts are looking for specific criteria which the vast majority of people don't fit.   We're boring to them from a national security point of view.  Sorry, folks.  It's not that they don't care to learn all about all their neighbors, they just don't have the time.

Can they listen in on who you're calling or read your private e-mails?  Yes.  Do they?  Maybe, but chances are the answer's no.   Do they have the right?  They do if they go through proper channels and get a warrant.  Is it an invasion of privacy?  Oh, big time.  Is it an abuse of power?  Depends on who you talk to.  Edward Snowden, the one who brought this brouhaha to light, likely felt it was.  Conversely, there seems to be a few folks at the N.S.A. who seem to think the agency can do whatever's required to keep our country safe without having to answer for it.  As for me, I have mixed feelings on the subject, but for now, I tend to come down on the side of government.  Apologies to conspiracy theorists, vigilantes, etc. for my stance -- you're gonna hate the next paragraph, too.

As to the second issue, about how much we might dislike how quietly this seemed to be happening before someone blew the whistle, I have three little words - GET OVER IT.  Governments have been quietly keeping an eye on their citizens for as long as this planet has had leaders and governments.  There have been watchdogs, silent and barking, throughout history.  Within our own borders, internal spies have always been there -- go read your history books. They have been and are part of the process that keeps us safe, whether we like it or not.   In the past, it was simple eyes and ears gathering the information.  As technology evolved, so did the manner of covert scrutiny, taking the methods and levels of snooping to a place we're not necessarily comfortable with.

It's the sneakiness that bothers us, the not telling us it was happening.  We earned and prize our freedom and not giving us a say in these matters irks us.  But, internal spying will continue and, unfortunately, needs to continue.  Our planet is not one big happy family yet and likely won't be in the lifetime of anyone reading this silly blog.  We try to get along, but don't always succeed.  There are also people who will always try to sow seeds of distrust, hate and violence against one or more groups for any number of reasons and some of those unhappy people are within our own borders.  Until we find a global harmony, we need to keep watch.  The watchers also need to be watched so they don't get too big for their clandestine britches.  It's not my job as an average citizen, whose calls and e-mails would bore an analyst to tears, but somebody needs to do it before the N.S.A. gets vilified and ripped apart, leaving us vulnerable in a less than peaceful world.