Edward Snowden Traitor Or Patriot?

A few weeks ago at a 'Ted 2014' Chris Anderson interviewed Ed Snowden. The topic was about taking back the internet. Irregardless of how someone views Ed Snowden there's one thing we should all agree on... Snowden's no dummy.



My own personal opinion
I'm not big on putting labels on someone. I'm more comfortable talking about the results of those actions someone took. Obviously no one likes what government intelligence is doing including U.S. Senate members. Nor former President Jimmy Carter who spoke to 'USA Today' on this very subject Tuesday, March 25th, 2014.

The question should become, has Snowden betrayed the American people or just the government of the United States? In my opinion, no to the first. Yes to the latter.

Like anyone who takes on the government (here or elsewhere in history) they should prepared to suffer the consequences. So I suppose whatever one's view is depends on how closely they feel aligned with what their government is doing and how willing they are to support it. I tend to support the view that if an individual is doing nothing wrong they should not have anything to fear from their government. Which on the other hand, shouldn't it be said, neither should our own government in their actions?

Snowden's revelations then leads us ask of ourselves....* Has the security of the United States government been compromised?
     If so, has the safety of it's people been compromised likewise as well?
* Constitutionally speaking, does this exceed the reasonable expectation of privacy?
     If so, how far are we willing to let those protections slide to keep us safe?
* If other people have this information should they keep it to themselves?
     Would you want to know?
* What would you do if you know what Snowden knew?
     Tell or keep it quite?This whole issue can be summed up with this metaphorical question. You learn someone's wife, husband, boyfriend or girlfriend is cheating. Should you tell?

If you decide to tell what you know..
(1) Have you destroyed the trust between them causing their relationship to breakup?
OR
(2) Was it broken by they them self doing what they did behind the others back?

I suspect how someone feels about either (1) or (2) is how they may feel the same way about what Edward Snowden has done. Loose lips may sink ships, but cheaters never prosper either. Tough call, ain't it?