Whistle blowers have always played an important role in attempting to curb the overreaching powers of government. Benjamin Franklin said “Those who surrender freedom for security will not have, nor do they deserve, either one.” I think that sums it up quite nicely.

Until governments do everything in their powers to care for every single person in the country, then spying on citizens to prevent a terrorist attack every 10-15 years is seriously misguided.

More people die of hunger each year, than are at any kind of risk from a terror attack. It's a completely irrational reaction.