Suddenly, this Snowden thing looks very different to me

[Aldo Leopold]

Although I look (and likely sound) like a noob, I've been reading here almost daily since '04. I've been a lax poster, to say the least. But some topics swim around in my head for a while and eventually stimulate thoughts of posting. The Snowden situation is one of these.

I've had a hard time figuring out how I feel about this situation, mainly because of my misgivings about some of what's been publicized by and about Snowden. In my mind, some things about this story just don't add up. I've been reluctant to see him as either a "hero" or a "villain/asshole".

But after reading hootinholler's "Candle Flickers" post last night, the whole situation looks very different to me now:

http://www.democraticunderground.com/10023096262

What if the NSA surveillance/leaker story offered by Snowden is just a front, or only part of the story? Reading hootinholler's post got me thinking, maybe Snowden's real motive was to make public the kind of information that would lead those of us with the right kind of knowledge to figure out how to lift the veil themselves and see what the big corporations are up to? Wouldn't this be an important step in sparking a citizens' revolution against the big corporations? Might it be easier to accomplish this goal by NOT stating this is the goal, but rather by making it known, ostensibly for other reasons, that the kind of information and records hootinholler described exist and can be accessed for the purpose of seeing the names and intentions of those involved in the dealings of the big corporations? If that's the case, then I would indeed say Snowden's actions were heroic.

This is just speculation, not an attempt to advance a conspiracy theory, and I'd be interested to see if others have had similar thoughts about Snowden's motive.

[villager]

1. I just want to say I like that user name, and am now thinking of "Green Fire"

Though, yes, to be on the side of the wolves is necessarily to stand opposed to the military/ industrial state...

[frazzled]

2. What if was to dismantle Social Security ...

or reintroduce the Gold Standard? Or abolish the Fed?

Those were all ideas he held. Maybe it was to "lead those of us with the right kind of knowledge to figure out how to lift the veil themselves and see what" the Social Security Administration and the Fed are up to?

Jeebus.

[Romulus Quirinus]

3. I'm sure people can disagree about somethings and agree on others. nt

[SomethingFishy]

4. Snowden isn't the issue. Never was..

His name is all over the place because what he revealed was damaging to the trust and reputation of the US. Can't have anyone even questioning what the government is doing, which is why it's all about him and not the information he leaked. Every day there are 20 new "Snowden eats puppies" threads. Followed by Snowden is a hero threads. Meantime the people in control laugh at the serfs and the game continues.


We are on our way out. Unless something major happens we are on our way to a full police state. They have done quite well at scaring the crap out of people and convincing them that the answers to their problems are, give up your privacy, embrace American exceptionalism, and understand that all your problems can be solved with weapons, violence, and a higher level of control. They have done so well that they actually have the people doing their work for them. You cannot disagree with anything this Administration does without having to defend yourself for daring to question authority...

[tech3149]

5. Not an unlikely scenario but my thoughts go in the other direction

What if he was a plant by the intelligence community to "put the fear of God" into anyone that opposed government policy? He may have actually been some sort of techno-savant but he still seemed to be deeply involved in the intelligence community from a very young age. If he was playing the NSA for suckers it shows that they aren't all that bright and that is truly dangerous.
Full disclosure: My sister works for Booze Allen. I advised her of all the reasons not to trust the company but when you need a job, you need a job.

[nadinbrzezinski]

6. His motive was telling you about it.

Mission accomplished.

Now what you do with that is another story.

Some of us lack the full skill set...but net-running is already a reality. Sorry for the cyberpunk term.