Policy reform occurs when people take notice. When government operates in the dark as with the NSA, working with secret interpretations of secret rulings from secret courts, the public doesn't have any meaningful opportunity to react.

It takes noise. Disruption. Agitation. Particularly in this area designated "national security" which goes on largely in secret.

We forget that, because so much journalism has been replaced by mutual backscratching between insiders and media organizations. "He said / she said" has replaced analysis so that easy sources don't get ruffled. The gears churn, but nothing is produced.

And look now. Congress is actually moving. The President has announced a newfound interest in reforms he had suggested as a candidate, but not managed to pursue until now.

This IS what democracy looks like.