I came across the Security Focus report "The NSA hears your concerns" today. The article was nothing special: just some more noise about how the NSA was engaged to conduct wiretap activities against American citizens without a court order - anybody who follows the security news knows that this isn't a new story. However, what I did think was noteworthy were the comments to the article. For example:
As long your not engaging in criminal activity what's there to worry about anyway? [c0re]
Agreed, this is no where near the first time the Gov't has taken initiative to help protect us. Quit blaming Bush. [anonymous]
National Security "spying" is codified into law since the early 1980's, including surveillance domestically. Whether you agree with the War on Terror or not. It's legal! [anonymous]
Presidents have always had the power to collect intelligence on communications with foreign powers w/o a warrant, especially in wartime. If they WEREN'T doing this, then I'd be worried [Anonymous]
And so on. For all that we might think that the security industry is populated by individuals who respect personal liberty, think again. This is a site by security practitioners for security practioners. Just throwing it out there.