Couldn't be prouder to see a Unitarian Universalist church heading up the plaintiffs. ;)
James, I was thinking today, this is something you might know who should be thinking about it. Or anyone else DC oriented, here. There's a major potential culture jam to be wedged regarding the national security TLAs, if there were a way to change their oversight. Originally, the House and Senate committees were set as close and intimate venues because there were only a few people in the country with Top Secret clearances, and very few programs requiring it. Now, there are over four million Americans with Top Secret clearances (down to whole crews of shipping clerks in Crypto City's mailrooms -- they have their own zipcode, and the NSA is the largest employer in Maryland). Each of the scores of private contractors on the beltway -- Booz Allen, CCA, whoever -- who do business with the NSA spends more time each year on the blackline budget items individually than I suspect all the congresscritters on both committees do in aggregate. And no wonder! It's their lifeblood, and probably what, nine or so figures of lifeblood in the local economy. Not touching the CIA, FBI, and the rest of DHS. It's insane to think that the equivalent of two nonprofit boards, meeting a few times a year, without sufficient domain experience in tech, military, diplomacy, or legal issues and without access to external advisory could adequately oversee these functions on behalf of the public. With all respect, I suspect any one of us could stump Senator Feinstein on the public elements we understand of these programs just on the basis of what I see of her lag in tech and milsec. Except for perhaps a few specific programs of great confidentiality, why couldn't we have a joint commission say, between congressional and executive appointees, to oversee this work to the better satisfaction of the people of the United States (and perhaps, even by extension, the rest of the viewed world ;)? Maybe even get a few privacy mavens on there. O V E R S I G H T. Make it mean something. . Seems we haven't really reflected on why and how these oversight mechanisms were set up, and how radically the landscape has changed. If we want to ask, "who will watch the watchers?" why not ask it most directly? Would one have to sponsor this through the separate Rules Committees? I am thinking someone should talk to the WaPo about an op/ed, but it's likely not me, no one outside a small circle of friends really knows who I am. If we found a champion on the floor, we might want to consult their preferences on a way forward. But I can't think of a better, more efficient infusion of Brandeis' elixir into the process, and even if it didn't go through, it's an amazingly illuminating question as to why it would not. It highlights any numbers of teachable moments, don't you think? . I just like to give people the opportunity to do things that I think make sense, and then they tell me in great detail why they decline, sometimes. I learn so much through a humble attitude. ;) Yrs, Shava Nerad [email protected] On Jul 16, 2013 7:46 PM, "James S. Tyre" <[email protected]> wrote: > For those interested, we filed a new lawsuit against the NSA today. We > have another still > in litigation, but this one focuses on a specific aspect of the new > revelations. > > Intro, FAQ and a link to the Complaint at > https://www.eff.org/cases/first-unitarian-church-los-angeles-v-nsa > > -- > James S. Tyre > Law Offices of James S. Tyre > 10736 Jefferson Blvd., #512 > Culver City, CA 90230-4969 > 310-839-4114/310-839-4602(fax) > [email protected] > Policy Fellow, Electronic Frontier Foundation > https://www.eff.org > > > > -- > Too many emails? Unsubscribe, change to digest, or change password by > emailing moderator at [email protected] or changing your settings at > https://mailman.stanford.edu/mailman/listinfo/liberationtech >
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