Immigration, the economy, inequality, climate change, health care, terrorism: candidates for president will have plenty to talk about over the next year and a half. Something to add to that list: government surveillance. Tension between civil rights and the fear of enemy attack seems unavoidable. But too often, fear leads us to question authority too […]
Edward Snowden
Posted inNews & Opinion
Restore Rochester fights for the Fourth
The reason former FBI director J. Edgar Hoover stayed in power so long despite his reputation as a ruthless bully is because he knew where all the dirty underwear was buried. Secrets are power, and they can be abused. History is rife with examples. Part of the pushback against the recently leaked government mass-surveillance programs […]
Posted inNews & Opinion
The misadventures of Edward Snowden
I was fascinated with Edward Snowden for about 15 minutes. It’s hard not to appreciate his initial assertion that Americans should know about and have some say in the operation and reach of US government’s surveillance programs. But Snowden’s whistleblower alter ego has gotten in the way, making the story about him instead of the […]
