Americans Don't Care About Domestic Spying ?

S1mmo+61 writes "Salon is analyzing a Time Magazine article today, a piece that essentially claims Americans do not care about the domestic spying. The analysis of the Time magazine piece (which is longer than the article itself) is interesting, if only as a quick history of domestic spying in the last eight years. 'Time claims that "nobody cares" about the Government's increased spying powers and that "polling consistently supports that conclusion." They don't cite a single poll because that assertion is blatantly false. Just this weekend, a new poll released by Scripps Howard News Service and Ohio University proves that exactly the opposite is true. That poll shows that the percentage of Americans who believe the Federal Government is "very secretive" has doubled in the last two years alone (to 44%)'"

Comments

Retort

[GWLlosa]

I'd write an insightful and scathing retort, in which the abundance of witticisms and the razor-sharp logic would decisively destroy the opposing position... but I don't know who might be reading this.

Re:Retort

[Thanshin]

We don't need to read your retort citizen. Knowing your recently confessed ability of writing one made us extract it from your brain.

Please wait patiently for our transport services to go pick you up.

Err, where did you live exactly?

Re:Retort

[Beefaroni]

i thought our calls were being monitored or recorded for quality purposes.

Re:Retort

[stuporglue]

I'll be waiting at 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue, Washington, DC 20500.

Re:Retort

[tgd]

Not much chance they'll find anything to extract from a brain there...

Re:Retort

[Chode2235]

You're just a cynical Gen-X Hipster. Your attitudes are typical of those in your generation.

We Millenials (along with the boomers) are much more comfortable with and trusting of the 'Good Government'

Your view is probably the better one to have, but the attitudes of Gen-X are mostly limited to them.

heh.

[apodyopsis]

they might of got a different answer if they had surveyed /. readers.

thanks heavens I live in the UK where government spying on the populace is strictly for... oh wait.

Re:Is it just me...

[Oxy the moron]

There a various well-established techniques for that, including selection bias and tricky question wording.

Yes, which is why I enjoy pollsters calling me so much. Assuming my four kids aren't screaming in the background (which makes life miserable for the pollster anyway) I like to break down the question and make sure I get exactly what they are getting at before answering. It drives most of them nuts. =)

Re:I actually agree with the article.

[vandit2k6]

But wait if you did nothing bad then what's the problem?

Guy Fawkes masks

[Anonymous Coward]

in 3... 2...

Re:Statistics

[qoncept]

I thought the summary did a pretty good job of trying not to sway anyone. You know -- when summary said the article didn't cite a relevent poll, and then the summary itself didn't cite a relevent poll.

Re:some people don't

[Comboman]

Huh, what do you know. I didn't Godwin the conversation.

We need a new law that replaces Nazi analogies with Soviet analogies. "Godwin's Law 2: This time it's Commies"

Re:some people don't

[Anonymous Coward]

McCarthy's Law?

Re:Statistics

[barocco]

Dear Citizen,

You have recently misspelt a common word in your exchange with other citizens. Please note that the adjective meaning "having a bearing on or connection with the matter at hand" is spelt as "relevant", not "relevent".

Please do not reply as this is an automated message. If you would wish to unsubscribe from this free service, you may appeal here.

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Re:I actually agree with the article.

[Nimey]

If this weren't /., I'd ask you for details of your sex life My forearm's getting a bit overdeveloped.

Re:Those who fail to learn the lessons of history.

[Phroggy]

"Those who study history are doomed to know it's repeating."