re: #68 iossarian

Emphasis mine - my take is that we’re more likely to get such assurance given the current situation, which is its benefit (it also has very real negative consequences, obviously). I don’t think the current scrutiny of the Patriot Act would be happening without Snowden’s actions, for example.

I think this is a very reasonable point. But I do think you have to wonder whether there would have been much “true discussion” if the Snowden breach had never happened.

It would be complex, tricky, and probably have to be done behind closed doors in any case. Since the subjects you choose to talk about and also not talk about all display information about your current knowledge and interests.

And most of the Snowden case is espionage trying to wrap itself into a flimsy cloak of patriotism.