Letter: Americans should be furious over the extent of NSA spying

Americans should be furious over the extent of NSA spying

Over the past two weeks, I watched the two-part PBS Frontline investigation broadcast locally on WNED titled, The United States of Secrets. This was an engrossing yet chilling report on the secret NSA spy program that encompasses the intrusions into the privacy of all U.S. citizens as well as foreign entities. This is the program that began after 9/11 under President George W. Bush and has been expanded upon under President Obama.

I found myself becoming very angry while watching this program, perhaps more for the fact that both presidents continue to mislead and even lie to the American public about the scope of the spying rather than the actual privacy intrusion itself. Yes, many people will say: Oh, it doesnt affect me. I have nothing to hide. But this country was built upon the Constitution and our rights are being trampled under the guise of security from terrorism. Major U.S. Internet and communications providers are cooperating with the NSA in granting access to our emails, phone calls, messages, Skype calls and even our financial transactions.

I think the thing that may disturb me the most is the silence over this issue from the American public. In my opinion, Edward Snowden is a whistle-blower and should be applauded for his disclosures rather than ostracized and condemned as a criminal. Wake up, America, before its too late.

Bill McCarthy

Orchard Park

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Letter: Americans should be furious over the extent of NSA spying