To try and get behind the causes, at a deeper level, of this current alarm of spying on citizens and the general concern about national security, I'm reminded of something I read back in the 1960's when I was a hippie (of sorts
).
I was fascinated by a so-called 'think tank' study on the necessity of conflict, and in particular the necessity of promoting alarm about potential threats of conflict in order for governments to function and control their citizens.
The think-tank study was called "Report from Iron Mountain". The fact that I still remember the title is an indication that I am not yet suffering significantly from Alzheimer's.
It was interesting to do an internet search on this title and discover that the entire report may have been a hoax. Here's the wikipedia link:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Report_from_Iron_MountainBut it's still not certain that it was a hoax. I find that very strange, but perhaps indicative of the current, totally confused state that the world is in, according to the incessant, hour by hour, news reports.