Saturday, December 21, 2013

Revisited Comments on the NSA

In my previous posts I, at least slightly, alluded to the fact that I could accept NSA snooping because I was confident that it would not affect those who did not need to fear it and I believe in the fact that governments need to keep a least some secrecy to protect against possible foreign and even domestic enemies.

I still believe that governments should be allowed to keep secrets for their own safety (secrets that pertain specifically to national security from domestic or international threats). Furthermore, when it comes to Edward Snowden, I commend him for believing he was doing the right thing. There needs to be more people who are willing to risk everything to do good. However I can not defend, specifically, what he did. When he took the job that he did he gave his word that he would abide by certain rules, rules that are tenuous, but legal (at least for now).

Also, if he was against the nature of the work and was aware of it he should of never taken the job. If you were put in charge of money that your knew or even found out later went to a group with views/operations that you disagree with, you are not justified in taking that money or giving that money to others. This is the same with knowledge. Granted the scenarios are different, I believe the principal is still important.

Furthermore, if he thought something inappropriate was happening he should of brought to the attention of government officials not the public.

When it comes to the NSA, the current situation can not stand. The purpose of the operation was to snoop out threats. It is clear that some NSA employees, higher-ups, and over-seers are not up to the task. The reports I have heard about the NSA abusing their power to, more or less, stalk/black mail members of Congress, old girlfriends, or potential girlfriends is indescribably, unacceptable.

Better screen processes for hiring employees, the quick firing of any employee found to abuse their power, and termination for higher-ups and over-seers who do nothing about the abuse of power. If the only way for the situation to heal is limiting the scope of the NSA information collection, then so be it, but that does not mean that those who have abused the system can stay in the positions that they are in.

The NSA information can be a powerful tool for the country to keep it self safe, but there must be rules and boundaries. It is a dangerous territory that the NSA plays in; both when it comes to the physical and when it comes to values. Given with such a task only the best-of-the-best can/should be apart of it. Not just the best with technical skills but also the best in ethics. These people need to realize their purpose and their power with their boundaries.


Thank you for reading. Comments/suggestions are always welcome and encouraged.


Sincerely,

PoliticalGuard