> I really do not understand why people continue to act shocked or surprised about this.
Because they grew out of their teenage angst:
>> You expect the government to use secret surveillance and disinformation campaigns against a wartime enemy. You probably don't expect the government to use secret surveillance and disinformation campaigns in court against its own citizens.
> Why wouldn't you expect that?
Because these aren't the values we want to uphold in our public discourses. As a society we all think our leaders, our chiefs, our representatives are good people acting for the common good. This is what we want as `a people`. What we think we should strive for.
Of course we are not there (yet). But complete relative cynicism about the state of things is not going to make it happen either.
Edit: The use of the verb `expect` here is clearly not meant to be `they are all idiots who believe anything the gubment tell them`. Sheesh.
Because these aren't the values we want to uphold in our public discourses. As a society we all think our leaders, our chiefs, our representatives are good people acting for the common good.
Of course we all want that, but I'm sorry, history proves there is very little evidence that we consistantly get it, so expecting it, it seems to me, is like expecting rain in the middle of the desert.
It happens, yes, but it's a fools game waiting for it.
Because they grew out of their teenage angst:
>> You expect the government to use secret surveillance and disinformation campaigns against a wartime enemy. You probably don't expect the government to use secret surveillance and disinformation campaigns in court against its own citizens.
> Why wouldn't you expect that?
Because these aren't the values we want to uphold in our public discourses. As a society we all think our leaders, our chiefs, our representatives are good people acting for the common good. This is what we want as `a people`. What we think we should strive for.
Of course we are not there (yet). But complete relative cynicism about the state of things is not going to make it happen either.
Edit: The use of the verb `expect` here is clearly not meant to be `they are all idiots who believe anything the gubment tell them`. Sheesh.