Arguably it has nothing to do with technology and everything to do with philosophy of government. It makes some sense that people in government optimize for government's needs and wouldn't it be great (from the government's perspective) if the government could have an eye in everything so it could try to be everywhere at once?

Of course that's antithetical to a free country, but from a pragmatic rather than principled view from the top it's not as apparent that the country _should_ be free, especially once the US changed from a federation (power largely in the hands of the states with the federal government mostly focused on legitimately cross-state issues) to a nation (power largely in the hands of the federal government)

Just so we're on the same page, the "top" are the people we elect and the others are bureaucrats, technocrats, and a "community" of spies. Is that correct?

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This pattern can be understood from different povs. A point of view rarely discussed is this: democracies and secret services are incompatible when currents of power are maintained by secrets.

Why can't we do something along the line of zero knowledge protocols in e.g. open Senate hearings?

Is it truly impossible to have both full accountability and effective intelligence services?

There's really no other political figure with as much unrestricted aggression as he has. I certainly don't have his nerve, I have far too much respect for the founders and institutions of our government to so willfully rage against it. I guess our greatest leaders, Washington, Lincoln, Roosevelt and everything we've built till now humbles me.

But unlike Mr. Trump, I also was working as a paperboy at 12 years old, worked night shifts during college, and never got a break being unemployed all the way into my 40s now. There's a bigger difference between someone like me and Trump, and people of other racial and ethnic backgrounds. That's why I never saw eye to eye with him. But he is pretty fascinating.

The audacity and outright disregard for our institutions is absolutely astonishing. I do hope the media spotlight remains on him for the rest of his life, I don't want that guy flying under the radar. He's a reminder of what America's worst inclinations can produce. Never worked a job (other than President of the United States of America), was born at the finish line, and a soul full of man's worst inclinations. And believe me, I agree with at least 75%+ of "his" policies. I remain an independent. If I had to describe my leanings it would be a "pre-MAGA Republican, who supports unions". These parties have to work for my vote and cannot count on my vote.. In case, you think someone saying the things I have is somehow anti-Trump. If I am, it's only because it makes sense to be so.