Irreal

The U.S. Government in the guise of the NSA believed that they were beyond reproach for their spying on innocent citizens all over the world. Everyone expects governments to spy on their enemies and perhaps on the government of even their allies. Spying on random citizens, domestic and foreign, is beyond the pale and everyone but the NSA and its apologists know this.

It turns out that there is a price to be paid. The European Union is expressing its disapproval in a dramatic and unmistakable fashion. They are threatening to suspend TTIP negotiations, something dear to the those lobbying—and donating to—the government for stronger copyright protections.

They are also calling for an end to the safe harbor provisions of data transferred to U.S. corporations and the termination of the SWIFT program that helps track bank transactions. In addition, the EU is calling for an EU only Internet structure to help keep the NSA out.

The NSA, of course, cares about none of this. They’ll just keep on doing what they’re doing. But the tech community in the U.S. is already feeling the blowback from these programs and will be sure to make their displeasure known to the government. The government can and will ignore this in the short term, but at the end of the day there’s too much money and influence from the business community to ignore. When that day comes, I hope those who believe in their impunity are called to answer for their actions.

I know I mentioned it before, but this is just too hilarious to let pass unremarked. Senator Dianne Feinstein who has consistently dismissed objections to our government spying on its citizens is up in arms about the Government spying on Senate Intelligence Committee staffers. What’s particularly amusing is that she uses the same words that those of us upset about NSA spying used. Somehow, when her ox is getting gored it’s a serious Fourth Amendment issue that needs to be referred to the Justice Department.

I sympathize with Feinstein. It is outrageous and does need to be stopped just as the spying on ordinary citizens does. One would hope that Feinstein will have second thoughts about her support of these programs but of course she won’t. She’ll just make sure that they aren’t used against her and then go right on explaining how if we don’t have anything to hide we shouldn’t be concerned. It’s no wonder that the favorability rating of Congress is at a record low.

Update:
Adding to the hilarity, Sen. Feinstein is particularly upset that the CIA accused her staff of removing classified documents from the secure facility in which the staff works. This after screaming for Edward Snowden’s blood. You can’t make this stuff up.