Nicholas Savasta
Blog 6
Chapter 12-Privacy for Political Leaders
The American press has traditionally seen its role in our democracy as the Fourth Estate, an unelected but active player in the life of the republic. Some, however, would accuse the media of being too active of a player: writing stories from their own biases and mercilessly intruding on the privacy of political figures.
In the 20th century, the press went from being a watchdog of candidates’ morals to a lapdog. (Smith, 241-242)
In an editorial about health the New York Times outlines the presidential nominees health status in: “Questions About Their Health.”
Again, the media goes a little bit too far in investigating the health of the candidates. Yes, I do think it is important to measure the health of the world’s most powerful positions but a couple of things this article outlined prove how intrusive the media can be sometimes!
“Senator McCain allowed a small pool of reporters to review 1,200 pages of medical records during a three-hour period and then allowed a few of his doctors at the Mayo Clinic in Arizona to answer questions by telephone for 45 minutes. The reporters were not allowed to photocopy any documents, making it harder for them to ask other experts what the medical findings might imply.”
Another bit that proves they go too far sometimes is outlined here:
“Senator Joseph Biden, who two decades ago was operated on for potentially life-threatening aneurysms in the brain, has released 49 pages of records and a letter from the Capitol physician saying that the senator has recovered fully. It is not known whether he has been evaluated by a neurologist recently. A doctor who relayed the Capitol physician’s thoughts said no tests were needed now because Mr. Biden had done well for 20 years.”
The fact that both of the older candidates release 1,200 pages and 49 pages of records is absolutely crazy to me! It seems as if with all of this information and a statement from Obama’s doctor the press should be happy, but they are not. I won’t even get into Sarah Palin (who hasn’t released any records and won’t even talk about her health at all) because the last of our problems if she is elected Vice President will be her health! One of our first problems will be if John McCain’s bout with cancer is more serious than anyone has let on and she becomes President. Yikes!
All in all, this article (although short) mentions just one case of the media being too obtrusive in the search for information on the four candidates of this election. The 1,250 pages of information released are not enough? Why not?
As far as I am concerned, and as important as the health of each candidate is, we need to focus on other issues. We need to continue to give politicians their personal respect and personal privacy. We need to stop intruding on personal matters and start reporting (more) on government, national, and global issues.
Tuesday, October 21, 2008
Nicholas' Blog Entry #5
Nicholas Savasta
Blog 5
Chapter 12-Privacy for Political Leaders
The American press has traditionally seen its role in our democracy as the Fourth Estate, an unelected but active player in the life of the republic. Some, however, would accuse the media of being too active of a player: writing stories from their own biases and mercilessly intruding on the privacy of political figures.
In the 20th century, the press went from being a watchdog of candidates’ morals to a lapdog. (Smith, 241-242)
One story I chose about “Privacy for Political Leaders” is a brand new story tonight about Obama’s ailing grandmother and his suspension of his campaign for two days because he is going to see her. Just the fact that this is news really speaks volumes. The article goes as far as telling about Obama’s grandmother being in the hospital last week and here being at home resting now. I think they went a little bit far but I guess in a historic election comes historic news coverage, opinions, and active playing in the Presidential nominee’s personal lives.
The article is called: “Obama Cancels Campaign Events To Visit Ailing Grandmother” written in The Wall Street Journal.
There were a couple of different views of why the schedule changes were being made. Almost to over look the fact that his grandmother is sick and in serious condition!
“Campaign aides insisted the schedule changes were not driven by political concerns. However, they coincide with recent reports that Republicans are contemplating moving resources out of the two states, Wisconsin and Iowa, where recent polling shows Sen. Obama's lead widening. Indiana, a traditionally Republican state, is far more competitive. Sen. Obama's mother died at age 54 of cancer. His maternal grandfather and his father are deceased.”
It also goes into detail about his recent vacations and quoting Senator Obama about his grandmother. Who knows if this is even true!
Sen. Obama vacationed with his grandmother this summer, saying she had reached an age when he wanted her to spend as much time as possible with her great grand children, his daughters, Malia and Sasha.
The Wall Street Journal even goes into Obama’s past speeches and mentions the “raising some eyebrows from his critics” in part of it. I just really don’t think this needs to be mentioned!
“She has always featured prominently in his stump speeches and biography, a "Rosey the Riveter" in World War II Kansas. He also raised her in a somewhat critical way -- raising some eyebrows from his critics -- in his closely watched speech on race in March in the wake of the controversies surrounding his long-time Chicago pastor, Jeremiah Wright. "I can no more disown him than I can my white grandmother," Sen. Obama said. He described her as "a woman who helped raise me, a woman who sacrificed again and again for me, a woman who loves me as much as she loves anything in this world, but a woman who once confessed her fear of black men who passed by her on the street, and who on more than one occasion has uttered racial or ethnic stereotypes that made me cringe.””
Beyond this, the article goes on to talk about why this might be a positive thing for Obama during the campaign. They actually think it might be a positive thing! What happens if his grandmother dies? Will that be positive too? I think this part is a little deranged.
“Nothing a presidential candidate does in the final weeks of a campaign can be divorced from politics. Here are three reasons the suspended campaign will not hurt Obama:
1. The trip emphasizes Obama's human side. A former law school faculty member, he can come across as aloof and overly intellectual. He has a compelling family story and a trip to visit his sick grandmother brings that story to the attention of more voters.
2. The trip may make some Obama critics tone down their attacks. It's hard to throw rocks at a guy when he is caught up with a very tough family situation. Political attacks pose new risk to any Republican tempted to play in the gutter.
3. Democratic surrogates will get new attention. Michelle Obama and Joe Biden are strong campaigners. Bill and Hillary Clinton will be on the trail, too. Barack Obama and Hillary Clinton were together in Florida on Monday. Even with Barack Obama out of the picture for a few days, his high-profile supporters will keep the momentum rolling”
Blog 5
Chapter 12-Privacy for Political Leaders
The American press has traditionally seen its role in our democracy as the Fourth Estate, an unelected but active player in the life of the republic. Some, however, would accuse the media of being too active of a player: writing stories from their own biases and mercilessly intruding on the privacy of political figures.
In the 20th century, the press went from being a watchdog of candidates’ morals to a lapdog. (Smith, 241-242)
One story I chose about “Privacy for Political Leaders” is a brand new story tonight about Obama’s ailing grandmother and his suspension of his campaign for two days because he is going to see her. Just the fact that this is news really speaks volumes. The article goes as far as telling about Obama’s grandmother being in the hospital last week and here being at home resting now. I think they went a little bit far but I guess in a historic election comes historic news coverage, opinions, and active playing in the Presidential nominee’s personal lives.
The article is called: “Obama Cancels Campaign Events To Visit Ailing Grandmother” written in The Wall Street Journal.
There were a couple of different views of why the schedule changes were being made. Almost to over look the fact that his grandmother is sick and in serious condition!
“Campaign aides insisted the schedule changes were not driven by political concerns. However, they coincide with recent reports that Republicans are contemplating moving resources out of the two states, Wisconsin and Iowa, where recent polling shows Sen. Obama's lead widening. Indiana, a traditionally Republican state, is far more competitive. Sen. Obama's mother died at age 54 of cancer. His maternal grandfather and his father are deceased.”
It also goes into detail about his recent vacations and quoting Senator Obama about his grandmother. Who knows if this is even true!
Sen. Obama vacationed with his grandmother this summer, saying she had reached an age when he wanted her to spend as much time as possible with her great grand children, his daughters, Malia and Sasha.
The Wall Street Journal even goes into Obama’s past speeches and mentions the “raising some eyebrows from his critics” in part of it. I just really don’t think this needs to be mentioned!
“She has always featured prominently in his stump speeches and biography, a "Rosey the Riveter" in World War II Kansas. He also raised her in a somewhat critical way -- raising some eyebrows from his critics -- in his closely watched speech on race in March in the wake of the controversies surrounding his long-time Chicago pastor, Jeremiah Wright. "I can no more disown him than I can my white grandmother," Sen. Obama said. He described her as "a woman who helped raise me, a woman who sacrificed again and again for me, a woman who loves me as much as she loves anything in this world, but a woman who once confessed her fear of black men who passed by her on the street, and who on more than one occasion has uttered racial or ethnic stereotypes that made me cringe.””
Beyond this, the article goes on to talk about why this might be a positive thing for Obama during the campaign. They actually think it might be a positive thing! What happens if his grandmother dies? Will that be positive too? I think this part is a little deranged.
“Nothing a presidential candidate does in the final weeks of a campaign can be divorced from politics. Here are three reasons the suspended campaign will not hurt Obama:
1. The trip emphasizes Obama's human side. A former law school faculty member, he can come across as aloof and overly intellectual. He has a compelling family story and a trip to visit his sick grandmother brings that story to the attention of more voters.
2. The trip may make some Obama critics tone down their attacks. It's hard to throw rocks at a guy when he is caught up with a very tough family situation. Political attacks pose new risk to any Republican tempted to play in the gutter.
3. Democratic surrogates will get new attention. Michelle Obama and Joe Biden are strong campaigners. Bill and Hillary Clinton will be on the trail, too. Barack Obama and Hillary Clinton were together in Florida on Monday. Even with Barack Obama out of the picture for a few days, his high-profile supporters will keep the momentum rolling”
Nicholas' Blog Entry #4
Chapter 11-Compassion, Privacy, and Ordinary Citizens
The news stories that I wanted to examine for chapter 11 involve new stories on the Middlebury student Nicholas Garza from this winter. Nicholas Garza Story By: Eva Sollberger (Seven Days) is a great example of “Compassion, Privacy, and Ordinary Citizens. Eva wrote a couple of really informative compassionate articles and videos about Nick Garza when he was missing. When reading this chapter and deciding which articles to write about this one came right to mind.
In reading this chapter a couple of things stuck out to me:
“These two incidents (outlined in the chapter) highlight the basic questions of this chapter: How do you handle the privacy of ordinary people who get drawn into the news? What is the role of compassion in the demands of daily journalism?”
Although many journalists and newspaper reporters think compassion shouldn’t be involved in reporting Eva did to a certain extent. She was respectful, well informed, kind, and set the tone in her videos and articles about Nick Garza. Back when this was a headline, I remember thinking about her compassion and how thoughtful her coverage was. Times like these call for sensitive, tasteful reactions and reporting from the media and I think Eva did just that.
“It wasn’t clear at that stage what kind of missing person’s case this was. For starters, who was Nick Garza? To his parents, Natalie and Demetrius, Nick was beyond exceptional. He was smart, handsome, talented and caring, and he seemed to possess a degree of self-control unusual in someone his age. But to someone who didn’t know him, Nick Garza could have been just another Middlebury freshman, probably away from home for the first time, who got himself into trouble he couldn’t handle.”
The chapter goes on about what the majority of journalists and newspaper reporters think about compassion. It brings about the term “objectivity” and whether or not compassion conflicts with this notion.
“Many journalists, especially newspaper reporters, shun the notion of compassion. They believe compassion runs counter to objective reporting, which most reporters try to practice despite widespread doubts as to whether it’s achievable or even desirable.” (Smith 213-14)
When ABC aired a segment linking Nick Garza and a 23 year-old Wall Street broker that had been seen drinking 20 martinis before he went missing titled, “Two Missing Men Are Likely Buried in Snow: Intoxication Plus Exposure to Elements Makes for Deadly Combination.” The family felt “stung” after this news story was aired. It is a perfect example of news reporters being uncompassionate. There was really no need to make assumptions and to point out the obvious in this story. With a bit more sensitivity and compassion the story would have been tasteful and actually helped out two ailing families. They did not need to be pushed down further!
“Hanley’s comments, which he reiterated on a subsequent Fox News broadcast, stung Nick’s family. Since arriving from Albuquerque, Natalie, when not with the search team or talking with police, was working the phone and her laptop, gathering knowledge and support from missing-person’s advocates. She hunted for scent-dog handlers and, she admits, so-called “intuitive counselors.” She made contact with an organization that helps maintain awareness of missing-person cases by raising reward money. And, like Tom Hanley, she too was talking to the media. Natalie knew the cable and network news outlets, in particular, love mysterious disappearances. But she soon discovered that the stories with the greatest traction don’t involve missing persons who are victims of their own irresponsibility.”
“Nobody cares about a drunk college student,” Natalie says. “I wanted people’s eyes to be out for Nick, to get some attention. That ABC article hurt very much. I felt like it undermined everything I was trying to do.”
The news stories that I wanted to examine for chapter 11 involve new stories on the Middlebury student Nicholas Garza from this winter. Nicholas Garza Story By: Eva Sollberger (Seven Days) is a great example of “Compassion, Privacy, and Ordinary Citizens. Eva wrote a couple of really informative compassionate articles and videos about Nick Garza when he was missing. When reading this chapter and deciding which articles to write about this one came right to mind.
In reading this chapter a couple of things stuck out to me:
“These two incidents (outlined in the chapter) highlight the basic questions of this chapter: How do you handle the privacy of ordinary people who get drawn into the news? What is the role of compassion in the demands of daily journalism?”
Although many journalists and newspaper reporters think compassion shouldn’t be involved in reporting Eva did to a certain extent. She was respectful, well informed, kind, and set the tone in her videos and articles about Nick Garza. Back when this was a headline, I remember thinking about her compassion and how thoughtful her coverage was. Times like these call for sensitive, tasteful reactions and reporting from the media and I think Eva did just that.
“It wasn’t clear at that stage what kind of missing person’s case this was. For starters, who was Nick Garza? To his parents, Natalie and Demetrius, Nick was beyond exceptional. He was smart, handsome, talented and caring, and he seemed to possess a degree of self-control unusual in someone his age. But to someone who didn’t know him, Nick Garza could have been just another Middlebury freshman, probably away from home for the first time, who got himself into trouble he couldn’t handle.”
The chapter goes on about what the majority of journalists and newspaper reporters think about compassion. It brings about the term “objectivity” and whether or not compassion conflicts with this notion.
“Many journalists, especially newspaper reporters, shun the notion of compassion. They believe compassion runs counter to objective reporting, which most reporters try to practice despite widespread doubts as to whether it’s achievable or even desirable.” (Smith 213-14)
When ABC aired a segment linking Nick Garza and a 23 year-old Wall Street broker that had been seen drinking 20 martinis before he went missing titled, “Two Missing Men Are Likely Buried in Snow: Intoxication Plus Exposure to Elements Makes for Deadly Combination.” The family felt “stung” after this news story was aired. It is a perfect example of news reporters being uncompassionate. There was really no need to make assumptions and to point out the obvious in this story. With a bit more sensitivity and compassion the story would have been tasteful and actually helped out two ailing families. They did not need to be pushed down further!
“Hanley’s comments, which he reiterated on a subsequent Fox News broadcast, stung Nick’s family. Since arriving from Albuquerque, Natalie, when not with the search team or talking with police, was working the phone and her laptop, gathering knowledge and support from missing-person’s advocates. She hunted for scent-dog handlers and, she admits, so-called “intuitive counselors.” She made contact with an organization that helps maintain awareness of missing-person cases by raising reward money. And, like Tom Hanley, she too was talking to the media. Natalie knew the cable and network news outlets, in particular, love mysterious disappearances. But she soon discovered that the stories with the greatest traction don’t involve missing persons who are victims of their own irresponsibility.”
“Nobody cares about a drunk college student,” Natalie says. “I wanted people’s eyes to be out for Nick, to get some attention. That ABC article hurt very much. I felt like it undermined everything I was trying to do.”
Nicholas' Blog Entry #3
Nicholas Savasta
Blog 3
Chapter 8- The Government Watch
The relationship of the news media and the government is marked by constant tensions. The case of the missing children illustrates at least two of them.
Article:
Vermont to Implement New Sex Offender Laws
ABC News- July 28, 2008
A second tension comes from defining the role the news media should play in the running of government. Sun-Sentinel’s Maucker, however, believed the media should be independent of the government. It was the government’s job to watch over the children in its custody; it was the media’s job to watch over government. (Smith, 143-144)
The new stories early this year about Brooke Bennett are the kind of news stories that reminded me of “The Government Watch” role that the media plays.
This story and the coverage from national news stations peaked my interest in the topic and many other Vermonters. There was a call for action in updating our laws in Vermont and something has finally been done.
In this way, the medias’ job wash to watch over the government and with that watch and push new laws are being passed to protect children and keep sexual predators at bay.
“When a state Senate committee begins deliberating later this summer on how to respond to the kidnap and killing of 12-year-old Brooke Bennett, it also will be under pressure to deal with a new federal law named for another slain child.”
These changes were mentioned here:
"It will mean some huge changes for Vermont," said Sherry Englert, sex offender registry program coordinator with the Department of Public Safety.
The article goes on to talk about this classified information that is sometimes necessary to release.
“Vermont currently has about 2,500 sex offenders on its registry, but access to the information is tightly controlled in a system lawmakers designed to take into account the privacy rights of people who've already served their time and in the hope that they'll have a smooth transition back into society.”
“Sears said he expects one result if the state complies with the Adam Walsh Act will be a larger number of offenders with information posted online, including some as young as 14 if they are convicted in adult court. But with Gov. Jim Douglas and others calling for a "Jessica's Law," with 25-year mandatory minimum sentences for sex offenders, and with national media personalities pummeling Vermont as being soft on sexual predators, any concern for youthful offenders or for the privacy of those promising to mend their ways is at an ebb.”
Overall, I thought this article was a great example of the role that media sometimes has to play and some of the positive things media can bring to the table. Without this coverage, questioning, and push something might not have changed.
Blog 3
Chapter 8- The Government Watch
The relationship of the news media and the government is marked by constant tensions. The case of the missing children illustrates at least two of them.
Article:
Vermont to Implement New Sex Offender Laws
ABC News- July 28, 2008
A second tension comes from defining the role the news media should play in the running of government. Sun-Sentinel’s Maucker, however, believed the media should be independent of the government. It was the government’s job to watch over the children in its custody; it was the media’s job to watch over government. (Smith, 143-144)
The new stories early this year about Brooke Bennett are the kind of news stories that reminded me of “The Government Watch” role that the media plays.
This story and the coverage from national news stations peaked my interest in the topic and many other Vermonters. There was a call for action in updating our laws in Vermont and something has finally been done.
In this way, the medias’ job wash to watch over the government and with that watch and push new laws are being passed to protect children and keep sexual predators at bay.
“When a state Senate committee begins deliberating later this summer on how to respond to the kidnap and killing of 12-year-old Brooke Bennett, it also will be under pressure to deal with a new federal law named for another slain child.”
These changes were mentioned here:
"It will mean some huge changes for Vermont," said Sherry Englert, sex offender registry program coordinator with the Department of Public Safety.
The article goes on to talk about this classified information that is sometimes necessary to release.
“Vermont currently has about 2,500 sex offenders on its registry, but access to the information is tightly controlled in a system lawmakers designed to take into account the privacy rights of people who've already served their time and in the hope that they'll have a smooth transition back into society.”
“Sears said he expects one result if the state complies with the Adam Walsh Act will be a larger number of offenders with information posted online, including some as young as 14 if they are convicted in adult court. But with Gov. Jim Douglas and others calling for a "Jessica's Law," with 25-year mandatory minimum sentences for sex offenders, and with national media personalities pummeling Vermont as being soft on sexual predators, any concern for youthful offenders or for the privacy of those promising to mend their ways is at an ebb.”
Overall, I thought this article was a great example of the role that media sometimes has to play and some of the positive things media can bring to the table. Without this coverage, questioning, and push something might not have changed.
Nicholas' Blog Entry #2
Nicholas Savasta
Blog 2
Chapter 8- The Government Watch
The relationship of the news media and the government is marked by constant tensions. The case of the missing children illustrates at least two of them.
One is the clash between the need for government secrecy and the obligation to openness in a democracy. No one questions the requirement for government to keep private some of the information that its agencies collect about citizens, particularly abused or abandoned children. Yet, the public must know what its government is doing. When government agencies conduct business in secret, things can go terribly wrong.
Article:
NSA Has Massive Database of Americans’ Phone Calls
USA Today- May 11, 2006
In finding this article I was trying to find something that brought about the government’s role in something that has never really been cleared up, explained with legal jargon, and to a certain extent in support of when government agencies conduct business in secret, things can go terribly long.
“The National Security Agency has been secretly collecting the phone call records of tens of millions of Americans, using data provided by AT&T, Verizon and BellSouth, people with direct knowledge of the arrangement told USA TODAY.”
How would you feel if you were on the phone right now and “someone somewhere” was listening to you? I know I personally would feel violated, violated, and utterly helpless. Do this happen? And who has made for this action to be acceptable? I really don’t trust huge corporations even more than I did before!
"It's the largest database ever assembled in the world," said one person, who, like the others who agreed to talk about the NSA's activities, declined to be identified by name or affiliation. The agency's goal is "to create a database of every call ever made" within the nation's borders, this person added.”
How is this okay?
This article is a perfect example of secrets that most (or all) Government agencies can keep. They can even be revealed (like in this article) and “explain” themselves and be off the hook.
And this is where the legal jargon goes on and on to offer some explanation to make people like me feel better:
“Don Weber, a senior spokesman for the NSA, declined to discuss the agency's operations. "Given the nature of the work we do, it would be irresponsible to comment on actual or alleged operational issues; therefore, we have no information to provide," he said. "However, it is important to note that NSA takes its legal responsibilities seriously and operates within the law."
The White House would not discuss the domestic call-tracking program. "There is no domestic surveillance without court approval," said Dana Perino, deputy press secretary, referring to actual eavesdropping.
She added that all national intelligence activities undertaken by the federal government "are lawful, necessary and required for the pursuit of al-Qaeda and affiliated terrorists." All government-sponsored intelligence activities "are carefully reviewed and monitored," Perino said. She also noted that "all appropriate members of Congress have been briefed on the intelligence efforts of the United States."
All I have to say is this: blah, blah, blah. I still don’t feel really any better. I guess I am lucky because I don’t have a land line. But that reminds me: I have a cell phone with service provided from Verizon. Shit!
This is how something is going to go terribly wrong:
“Sources, however, say that is not the case. With access to records of billions of domestic calls, the NSA has gained a secret window into the communications habits of millions of Americans. Customers' names, street addresses and other personal information are not being handed over as part of NSA's domestic program, the sources said. But the phone numbers the NSA collects can easily be cross-checked with other databases to obtain that information.”
Overall, these programs like the one the NSA initiated after 9/11 in “good intentions” are the exact secrets that must be revealed. Hopefully, with the graces of the press we will get more answers, protection, and an advocate through their processes of questioning and investigation.
Blog 2
Chapter 8- The Government Watch
The relationship of the news media and the government is marked by constant tensions. The case of the missing children illustrates at least two of them.
One is the clash between the need for government secrecy and the obligation to openness in a democracy. No one questions the requirement for government to keep private some of the information that its agencies collect about citizens, particularly abused or abandoned children. Yet, the public must know what its government is doing. When government agencies conduct business in secret, things can go terribly wrong.
Article:
NSA Has Massive Database of Americans’ Phone Calls
USA Today- May 11, 2006
In finding this article I was trying to find something that brought about the government’s role in something that has never really been cleared up, explained with legal jargon, and to a certain extent in support of when government agencies conduct business in secret, things can go terribly long.
“The National Security Agency has been secretly collecting the phone call records of tens of millions of Americans, using data provided by AT&T, Verizon and BellSouth, people with direct knowledge of the arrangement told USA TODAY.”
How would you feel if you were on the phone right now and “someone somewhere” was listening to you? I know I personally would feel violated, violated, and utterly helpless. Do this happen? And who has made for this action to be acceptable? I really don’t trust huge corporations even more than I did before!
"It's the largest database ever assembled in the world," said one person, who, like the others who agreed to talk about the NSA's activities, declined to be identified by name or affiliation. The agency's goal is "to create a database of every call ever made" within the nation's borders, this person added.”
How is this okay?
This article is a perfect example of secrets that most (or all) Government agencies can keep. They can even be revealed (like in this article) and “explain” themselves and be off the hook.
And this is where the legal jargon goes on and on to offer some explanation to make people like me feel better:
“Don Weber, a senior spokesman for the NSA, declined to discuss the agency's operations. "Given the nature of the work we do, it would be irresponsible to comment on actual or alleged operational issues; therefore, we have no information to provide," he said. "However, it is important to note that NSA takes its legal responsibilities seriously and operates within the law."
The White House would not discuss the domestic call-tracking program. "There is no domestic surveillance without court approval," said Dana Perino, deputy press secretary, referring to actual eavesdropping.
She added that all national intelligence activities undertaken by the federal government "are lawful, necessary and required for the pursuit of al-Qaeda and affiliated terrorists." All government-sponsored intelligence activities "are carefully reviewed and monitored," Perino said. She also noted that "all appropriate members of Congress have been briefed on the intelligence efforts of the United States."
All I have to say is this: blah, blah, blah. I still don’t feel really any better. I guess I am lucky because I don’t have a land line. But that reminds me: I have a cell phone with service provided from Verizon. Shit!
This is how something is going to go terribly wrong:
“Sources, however, say that is not the case. With access to records of billions of domestic calls, the NSA has gained a secret window into the communications habits of millions of Americans. Customers' names, street addresses and other personal information are not being handed over as part of NSA's domestic program, the sources said. But the phone numbers the NSA collects can easily be cross-checked with other databases to obtain that information.”
Overall, these programs like the one the NSA initiated after 9/11 in “good intentions” are the exact secrets that must be revealed. Hopefully, with the graces of the press we will get more answers, protection, and an advocate through their processes of questioning and investigation.
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