The New York Times' prophetic 1983 warning about the NSA

[kpete]

David Burnham, in 1983: THE SILENT POWER OF THE N.S.A.

No laws define the limits of the N.S.A.'s power. No Congressional committee subjects the agency's budget to a systematic, informed and skeptical review. With unknown billions of Federal dollars, the agency purchases the most sophisticated communications and computer equipment in the world. But truly to comprehend the growing reach of this formidable organization, it is necessary to recall once again how the computers that power the N.S.A. are also gradually changing lives of Americans - the way they bank, obtain benefits from the Government and communicate with family and friends. Every day, in almost every area of culture and commerce, systems and procedures are being adopted by private companies and organizations as well as by the nation's security leaders that make it easier for the N.S.A. to dominate American society should it ever decide such action is necessary.

http://www.nytimes.com/1983/03/27/magazine/the-silent-power-of-the-nsa.html?partner=rss&emc=rss&pagewanted=all
http://boingboing.net/2013/08/21/the-new-york-times-prophetic.html


scary stuff:

“The National Security Agency’s capability at any time could be turned around on the American people, and no American would have any privacy left, such is the capability to monitor everything: telephone conversations, telegrams, it doesn’t matter. There would be no place to hide. If a dictator ever took over, the N.S.A. could enable it to impose total tyranny, and there would be no way to fight back.”
—Senator Frank Church (1975)

[Junkdrawer]

1. Power Corrupts...Absolute Power.....

and that

[Cooley Hurd]

2. We need a new Frank Church... badly!!!

[Hydra]

3. This feels like a pivotal moment

They have sent us the message: "STFU or pay the consequences!"

What will we do now?

[snappyturtle]

4. OMG! This statement:

Every day, in almost every area of culture and commerce, systems and procedures are being adopted by private companies and organizations as well as by the nation's security leaders that make it easier for the N.S.A. to dominate American society should it ever decide such action is necessary.

Necessary?

[Mojorabbit]

5. K and R nt