Yes, I agree with that. But in this case maybe the middle management wasn't stealing, but was collecting records of who called who. In that case its creepy, in the NSA case its something else.

I do think that the activities revealed are of great concern. The senators who should have been at the helm in an oversight role didn't understand what was being done, or were deceived, or both. I DGAF about those things. I also think that reasonable people (a group you and a lot of /. commenters are only loosely affiliated with - HINT: try using a little less ridiculous hyperbole, it makes you sound childish, and a little more reasoning) can disagree over whether the activities revealed are "infinitely greater" than Snowden's crimes. Infinity is an awful lot, and the nature and wording of the Patriot Act are beyond my powers of comprehension. Still, there is LOT of ambiguity, and unfortunately a LOT of room for interpretation). That aside, he still committed a crime, a pretty serious one. So, if you don't like the Patriot Act, then call your senator or congressman, or both. Call them several times.

No.

Yes, I said it. He's a criminal. Of course the gov't should NOT pardon him. All you "US gov't is evil" posers can say all you want, and I may even agree with some of your BS, but he took the trust that his employer (you and I) put in him, and all the pay and benefits, and he stabbed us all in the back. There were other ways to voice his disagreement(s), but he chose to be a petulant 20-something-know-it-all and make HUGE national security decisions that endangered lives and cost taxpayers billions. A 20-something kid (that's what he was) should not be making decisions like that. I am as liberal as they come, but I also believe that the law should still apply to Edward Snowden. He will make a misstep and he will be nabbed, or perhaps Russia will get sick of him and just hand him over.

mine, thank you very much. To those of you with NO DIRECT EXPERIENCE in this (i.e. childless, or "my friend's kid" or just willing to spout on whatever) let me say this: I accept your comments, but please be willing to change your thinking should you ever have kids with ADHD or similar developmental problems. I have a 10 year old son with ADHD. The most important thing I've learned is that every kid is different and talking about them in the aggregate is wrong. What works or doesn't work for my son and our family may or may not work with the next family. Raising kids is tough, and raising kids with ADHD/etc is harder still. I've heard the clucking of hens like all the blowhards I'm reading here. I've seen the stares and the looks from the ignorant who question my parenting and my choices. My message to you all: STFU! To those of you ignorant childless ones, a word of advice: if you have a friend or relative who has a child with ADHD or similar, try compassion. Try to understand that they have their hands full and that you really don't know shit about their situation. And try to keep your mouth shut and your ears and eyes open. If you think they are getting railroaded into medication then support them, encourage them, but stay out of their business. No matter how smart you think you are, understand that raising an ADHD child (or any child for that matter) is a humbling, though infinitely rewarding, experience.

When I was in college my roommate and I made a couch out of cases of empty (beer) returnables. Can I sue somebody to get free beer?