I'm probably missing something obvious, but what evidence is there to suggest that there's an ace that trumps the government's terrorism card?
I want to be optimistic, but I'm not really sold on the idea that we have the information, and that it's just a matter of time until it's released to the public.
A year ago nobody imagined that all of this Snowden stuff would come out, did they? Yet he was clearly working on something that may or may not have worked.
The mass surveillance works two ways: to learn/steal the secrets of the citizenry is one way, the other way is to hide secrets from the citizenry. Some people in government are more concerned with people talking about their secrets, their 'noble lies'. This is because, once exposed and once a cover up gets started, they face a serious existential threat. But we need a bit more public humiliation, loss of trust in the government and more silly talk about 'terrorism' to get the climate right for that. However, rest assured, there is at least one 'existential threat' in a holding pattern, just waiting for the perfect storm...
I've downvoted both your comments because while I appreciate a bit of showmanship, I dislike this kind of rhetoric even more. It's hard to communicate, and if you're not willing to speak plainly about what "threats" and "ace" then you're just an asshole.
Thanks - really. Please see my third comment (above in thread). I wish I could share more with the HN audience, but I do not want to bring any trouble here! I fish, because maybe there will be a time when I can be more open.
There is more to it than 'childish attention seeking'. With the world at large (and not you personally), what is the point in sharing the good stuff, i.e. anything constructive and enlightened?
As things stand there are a lot of things worth getting properly upset about - those wars in far off places, the likes of Guantanamo and the Iraq War that was started on false pretences. No heads have rolled for any of these crimes. We have all become de-humanised Good Germans, not really that bothered and incapable of organising meaningful opposition.
At least our German friends had a government that knew what was going on and were in charge of the show. We have corporate puppets that cannot think outside of the dogma provided by their respective political parties. Our elected leaders are not that powerful. Standing up to them should not be difficult in the least.
Enough time has passed since 2003 for the effect of 'either you are with us or against us' to wear off. People should not let the lies that led to 'shock and awe' be forgotten. We should be regaining our voice to say 'actually, yes, we do want those people that took the world to war on false pretences brought to court'. But this has not happened and is not happening.
With this being the case, why should anyone that knows anything really damaging to the government that we have want to damage the government? People have got the government they deserve.
However, there is also the matter of fact-based history, and an unwritten obligation to hand on to future generations a fact-based account of our times instead of mutually convenient fairy tales. There is also the matter of justice, e.g. for people in places like Guantanamo. Therefore, although most people - those with the attention span of a TV advert - have proven through their silence and submission that they don't deserve better, 'fact based history' does matter.
I want to be optimistic, but I'm not really sold on the idea that we have the information, and that it's just a matter of time until it's released to the public.