Americans Not Bothered by NSA Spying

Snap E Tom writes "According to a Washington Post poll, a majority (63%) of Americans 'said they found the NSA program to be an acceptable way to investigate terrorism.' A slightly higher majority would not be bothered if the NSA collected personal calls that they made. Even though the program has received bi-partisan criticism from Congress, it appears that the public values security over privacy."

Done by Phone?

[eldavojohn]

Let me guess, these polls were done by phone?

Washington Post: Hello, do you have a minute to take a survey?
Citizen: Of course I do!
Washington Post: Great! We were just wondering whether you're concerned with the recent news of the NSA?
Citizen: You mean the fact that they are collecting the phone call records made and recieved by each citizen of the United States?
Washington Post: Yes, probably even this very phone call right now ... how do you feel about that?
Citizen: I'm fuckin' pissed!
Washington Post: So you're conncerned? You know, on our last poll about the NSA, the one where we covered them routing and recording phone calls [dailykos.com], people sure answered differently.
Citizen: Wait a second ... you mean they can record transcripts of phone calls?
Washington Post: Yes, probably even this very phone call right now ... we do use AT&T.
Citizen: Ah, I've changed my mine. I am completely fine with this acceptable form of combating terrorism. Sic Heil Bush & all that jazz. I love my country and would sacrifice every bit of privacy for it. Goodbye!

Phonesex

[WebfishUK]

...A slightly higher majority would not be bothered if the NSA collected personal calls that they made...

Just so long as they spoke dirty and pretended to be a girl

"Hi my name is Agent Sexbitch and I'm not wearing my regulation black suit. I'm a naughty agent...."

Well...

[flynt]

Knowing that their answers may be monitored, what do you think they'd say? These, after all, were done over the phone.

another quote

[flynt]

Those who attempt to gain karma by trying to summarize a complex issue with a one-line quote will have have done neither.

I propose a new law:

[Peter Trepan]

Anyone who utters the words: "If you've done nothing wrong, then what are you afraid of?" should immediately be put on the no-fly list.

In other news...

[sparkz]

In other news, a survey found that the majority of Americans don't understand why the rest of the world view them as dumb, mindless sheep.

deported

[fusto99]

Of that 63%, 50% were promised that they would not be deported if they answered yes.

Re:Done by Phone?

[ozmanjusri]

Let me guess, these polls were done by phone?

No, they used a Diebold AccuVote-TSX touch screen system...

Untapped power source?

[Myrrh]

I've come up with a way to reduce—perhaps even eliminate—our dependence on foreign oil as an energy source.

As more and more civil liberties are trampled upon, faster and faster will the Founding Fathers spin in their respective graves.

If we attach magnets to each Founding Father, then wrap copper wire around each of them, we should have a potentially unlimited energy source. Well, at least until the Libertarians get elected in significant numbers—so yeah, come to think of it, it truly is unlimited.

The AC frequency, of course, might be unpredictable. In fact, I'd suspect it will be ever-increasing, which could create some technical issues to overcome. But we're smart people, I'm sure we can figure it out.

What do you all say? Shall we write up a grant proposal?

Re:Yay! For the USA!

[mike77]

Benjamin Franklin must be spinning in his grave...
If we could somehow harness this perpetual spinning motion of the founding fathers we could probably power america for centuries to come! Thus weakining our dependence on foreign oil, and dealing a blow to teh terr'sts! Let the attack on personal liberties continue!!!

Re:security over privacy

[Mr Pippin]

Meanwhile...
"A Four-alarm fire in Downtown Moscow clears way for a glorious new tractor factory. ..."

Re:Of course.

[Sj0]

By the way, what country do you live in? Shall we talk about your glass house?

If I say "Swtizerland", will you bake me a cake?

Re:Sic?

[renderhead]

Don't get bent out of shape. Just remember to quote it like so:
"Sic Heil Bush" [sieg]

Re:security over privacy

[slashdotnickname]

It seems that American's are, indeed, no longer anything like their forefathers that they speak so highly of.

I would hope not. Our forefathers owned slaves and wore tights.

Got lemons? Make lemonade!

[xactuary]

It's a hassle to write my Congressman, knowing that at best some lackey is reading it and checking-off on some breakdown list to determine where I stand.

However, if I end each phone conversation with my friends with a short tirade of what an asshat George W. Bush is, then I can hang up knowing that only those at the highest level of government are hearing my views.

Heck of a job Michael V. Hayden!

Re:"Thank you for calling the U.S.A. ...."

[PhoenixPath]

Where can I find these little synthetic females?

Re:It's not a new sentiment though...

[johnny cashed]

Great. We are at the apathy and dependency stage now. I got to go thru bondage, spiritual faith, and great courage, just to get the liberty I'm looking for? Is this some sort of tootsie roll pop? A lot of licking to get to that nice center of liberty. That sounds like hard work.

Thanks for the quote though.

And yes, I'm being sarcastic. Possibly funny.

Re:security over privacy

[Boronx]

But they did pluralize words with 'f's.

Re:Sic?

[Ohreally_factor]

That was so funny, I'm thinking of putting it in my .sieg

Re:Republican == NRA

[kbielefe]

It's likely that many (if not most) voted for Bush at least twice.

I know I did. And that's just in the 2004 general election.