The Johns Hopkins Foreign Affairs Symposium Presents: The Price of Privacy: Re-Evaluating the NSA

The Price of Privacy: Re-Evaluating the NSA, A Debate
This year's Presidential Event was a debate between General Michael Hayden, former director of the CIA and NSA, and Dr. David Cole, Georgetown professor of constitutional law. With the prompting and critical questioning of CBS News chief White House Correspondent Major Garrett, both participants debated the constitutionality of the NSA, and the appropriate balance between personal privacy and national security.

[@JoshuaMcGeekiest]

If you came here looking for the "We kill people based on metadata" sound bite, it's at

[@backyardscienceguy]

I thought this was a very honest and heartfelt debate between the two sides. I've listened to general Hayden in other lectures, and Glenn greenwald and Edward Snowden 's take on things. I admit to eventually coming down more or less on Hayden's side, but I see the opposition's primary point: without these leaks, how could we be having this debate? Who would come forth and say that this is a matter for the people to decide? I really do see the need for secrecy, but to sustain something that is both secret and illegal is too great a task for our human nature to sustain without leaks for long. Hell, Monika Lewinsky got out...how is a dragnet surveillance going go stay behind closed doors? In summary, I understand and except the need for broad surveillance measures given today's technological and sociological realities; however, given that this is a democracy, the people should be informed at least on the basic tenets of what it is our government intends to implement. Just sayin.....

[@rachaelpellagrini1669]

Hayden please read Farenheit 451.