While America was distracted by Snowden, You Likely Missed These Important Things

[riqster]

http://bluntandcranky.wordpress.com/2013/06/26/while-america-was-distracted-by-snowden-you-likely-missed-these-important-things/

Snip:

"ALWAYS pay attention to the man behind the curtain. He’s hiding back there for a reason, after all. And if he asks you to look at something amazing, you’d be well advised to look at anything BUT what he’s trying to distract you with."

More, as always, at the link.

[frazzled]

1. America hasn't been very distracted, just DU

If people get off their computers and read a full newspaper or watch anything other than cable news, the Snowden/NSA story has not really been consuming the nation.

It's good to be reminded that other things--voting rights, climate change, DOMA unconstitutionality (yay), Syria, gun control (still!), jobs--are still important issues of the day.

[riqster]

2. I wish it were just DU

Although your point is well-taken, there are lots of people who don't look at any "news" source but save for what Tom T calls "Action McNews". And they'll be just as ill-informed as the politicos and media could wish.

[Arctic Dave]

3. Now we know both.

Most of us can do two things at once.

Snowden is a huge deal so it would seem logical what he exposed is front and center. And for good reason.

[riqster]

4. No, he's not really much of a much

Most of what he "revealed" were either new details on already-known information, or new claims that that have been disputed.

The good thing is that people are finally pissed off about the Partiot Act and all its bastard children, so maybe we can get that shit shoveled away.

The bad thing is how much media attention was given to him at the expense of other crucial matters.

On edit, an example, posted just after the DOMA decision: http://www.democraticunderground.com/10023102074

[Arctic Dave]

5. We will once we find out what is on the laptops.

Since the NSA isn't even sure what he has this could be huge.

I hope it is some more details of the fascism that has crept into our government. Can kill it if we don't know what it is.

[riqster]

6. And until we have data, let's focus on immediate issues

Like all the crap that has been pulled while people were looking at this mess. From the Blog Post Thingie:

"While you were all aghast and agog at the NSA/PRISM/Verizon/Greenwald imbroglio, the following events also occurred, but you probably missed them:

The Supreme Court made it easier to deny your right to vote.

The Supreme Court also took away your right to remain silent and made it easier for your boss to abuse you on the job.

In Michigan, one unelected man is about to steal the pensions and other retirement bennies from retirees, and will also steal from investors .

In Ohio, extreme anti-woman legislation is being advanced along with a tax hike on everyone but the rich, who will get a tax cut. And these are just a few of the events that were being downplayed by the media while they hyped a series of BS scandals, each of which turned out to be nothing when they were looked at closely.

Links are at the blog if you'd care to verify any of the above.

[Arctic Dave]

7. Yeah, well. Same 'ol same 'ol from the repugs.

Not really "news".

Keep us posted on them.