Edward Snowden: the whistleblower behind the NSA surveillance revelations.

[Jackalope]

Look at the generation we live in. I'd be shocked to find out that the government WASN'T doing this. I feel weird not being bothered by it, but at the same time, why should I be?

Yeah, I can't imagine why someone would be bothered by your government government employing secret courts that use secret proceedings to issue warrants which are almost never denied. Furthermore, I can't imagine why anyone would be bothered by a NSA surveillance program who's stated purpose is to spy on foreign entities, that nonetheless captures a great deal of intelligence on persons within the United States - an act that the NSA has historically been forbidden to engage in. Can't imagine why anyone would be opposed to them doing that, even without the formality of a rubber-stamped FISA warrant.

I personally don't object to these actions undertaken lawfully, under warrant issued upon probable cause. I object when secret courts issue secret warrants to authorize bulk surveillance and data gathering, and when three letter agencies of the United States eavesdrop on the communications of United States residents and citizens in what appears to me to be an unconstitutional usurpation of Congress' authority.

You don't find the chilling effect convincing. I'm OK with that. I do find your attempt to paint this is as some sort of conspiracy theory to be pretty funny.