White House: "We expect" Hong Kong to comply with Snowden extradition

[JDPriestly]

59. And they probably target people like Snowden. They no doubt

know precisely who works where when it comes to sensitive work in this country.

The people in Silicon Valley who invented the internet believed that it would make the world more democratic. I think they were optimistic. It clearly has the ability to make the world either more or less democratic. It depends on who runs it, who spies on it, etc.

The answer to the problem with foreign nationals spying on the internet connections and electronic communication connections of our companies and government is not to spy ourselves. Where will that lead? We can confront them about their spying, but that is not going to change their behavior because, as you point out, they think they are rights.

The answer for us is to have communication methods that are so secure that they are impenetrable by foreign governments. And also, we need to make sure that foreign nationals from governments that might be tempted to spy on the data of "our people" never get access to any of it.

Now, that is a very, very difficult task, perhaps an impossible one. But it is the only one that will work. Because as long as our companies use the internet or existing electronic media even satellite communications, their communications will be insecure.

We started on a long and very devious path when we adopted a policy of "free" trade. Now all our technological advantages are for sale. Centuries of hard work, sacrifice and study, the development of the scientific method by all kinds of people from monks to scholars of our time -- sold to the lowest bidder in terms of labor costs with no concern for the values of the people to whom we have sold it. Give a man a fish and he will eat it. Teach a man to fish and he will take your fishing pole and use it to hit you over the head.

We need to learn something from this experience. Be wary of free trade.