The smug sigh

Matt Bors on the way stories like this week's NSA spying revelations are all too often brushed off.

There’s a line I’ve seen trotted a few times now that goes, “Ah, we knew all this was happening, you idiots!” We didn’t know. If you knew about PRISM you should have scooped The Guardian and made a name for yourself. The fact is, this story is mammoth and is bringing an incredible amount of attention to a program that’s been operating in total secrecy for a decade. But, yes, you’re smart and get a pat on the head for not being a “sheeple.”

Meanwhile, in a lot of cases, we're doing a fine job of spying on ourselves anyway.  But, remember, that's just part of internet companies like Google's business model. As Julian Assange pointed out last week, they're actively seeking to become a partner in US "anti-terrorism" operations. Eventually we'll just replace NSA's 20,000 plus government employees with a contract to Google and thereby successfully privatize Big Brother too.

Update: Here David Simon provides us with a platonic ideal of the kind of smug rationalization Bors is talking about.

Frankly, I’m a bit amazed that the NSA and FBI have their shit together enough to be consistently doing what they should be doing with the vast big-data stream of electronic communication.  For us, now — years into this war-footing and this legal dynamic — to loudly proclaim our indignation at the maintenance of an essential and comprehensive investigative database while at the same time insisting on a proactive response to the inevitable attempts at terrorism is as childish as it is obtuse.  We want cake, we want to eat it, and we want to stay skinny and never puke up a thing.  Of course we do.

Not sure who he thinks "we" are in this description.  Politics involves some people asking for certain polices while others ask for different policies. You don't get to combine the disparate results of separate discussions and declare that they represent the collective will of the people.  Nor do you get to shame those who dissent though they are outmaneuvered by the process for being inconsistent.  According to Simon, you cannot simultaneously wish not to be exploded by terrorists while also disagreeing with your government's method for preventing that from happening. And you wouldn't be so worked up about it if only you were as smart as he is.