A reader suggested I post the links to some of the stories that were known long before Snowden said anything about PRISM. Now, while these stories do not reveal the name of the operation (i.e. PRISM), they do make it clear that it was well known that the U.S. Intelligence Agencies have been conducting domestic spying for many years. It was also known that this spying was on the majority of the American public, and that a great deal of it was being done without any warrant or real oversight. What’s more, those who have been paying attention also know that this spying has not been limited to federal intelligence agencies, but extends to federal bureaucratic and regulatory agencies, State law enforcement and even local authorities. What we should learn from this is that, because we, THE PEOPLE, refused to defend our rights, government at all levels has assumed they have the authority to spy on us and collect massive amounts of data for their databases. When viewed through the proper lens of a free and self-governing society, that this is happening is actually our fault and not that of an out of control and tyrannical government. Tyrants will naturally do what tyrants do if no one bothers to stand up to and stop them.
This post has a critical link in it showing a timeline of NSA spying – including the exploitation of your XBox:
The Problem Is, McCarthy Was Right!
And this post lists just a few of the other links I have collected related to this issue:
Why Must Snowden ‘Prove’ His Allegations When They Are Public Knowledge?
This is an important issue because, left unchecked, it provides anyone who would use it for the purpose of exploitation, coercion and political control with EVERYTHING they need to track, silence and/or destroy their enemies – as Obama has so clearly demonstrated he can and will do (i.e. IRS, reporteragte, etc). We now live in a world that – for all practical purposes – is the love child of “1984” and “Brave New World.” Whatever “freedom” you think you have is as much an illusion as the life people live in “The Matrix.”
The Rio Norte Line 
Reblogged this on Cbcburke9's Blog.
You know, a lot of time is spent on this blog rehashing recurring events or old news. When are any of you going to really start answering the question: “Ok, so what do we do about this?” I think this is long overdue. The TEA party is really good at ginning up the protest machine on things, why not use that to start the 2014-2016 political campaign?
Old Vet,
The issue with the TEA Party is that it has been weakened by the Republican Party. When the Republicans co-opted the TEA Party movement, it chased away the 30%+ who had no affiliation with the Republican Party and did not want to be affiliated with them. This is exactly why the Republicans co-opted them: so they could dilute and control the movement and prevent it from effectively working against the established system.
The republican party can make any claim they want. Now is the time for the TEA party to get out there and claim independence from every party. Plus, like Glenn Beck said to the libertarians, that if we allow them to divide us on our “pride of our philophies” instead of uniting on our common defense of the constituion and declaration of independence.
Old Vet,
Look at what is happening here on the RNL? Where is this elusive “common understanding” of our founding principles? I find it in the Declaration, but I am in a minority. Most seem to find it in the Constitution. The two are not necessarily the same — as we have demonstrated the past 2 weeks or so.
Nobody said they are the same one is th efoundation of the other. As far as RNL is concerned, I thought education was what is was about. If not, I apologize for a higher expectation.
Old Vet,
Oh, my friend, we are not only educating on the RNL, I’d say we’re doing so with a real-life demonstration of the problems we face 🙂
To finish the thought “Plus, like Glenn Beck said to the libertarians, that if we allow them to divide us on our “pride of our philophies” instead of uniting on our common defense of the constituion and declaration of independence, they will always win.”