The definition of a security state is one that prioritizes security over all other considerations. Edward Snowden More Quotes by Edward Snowden More Quotes From Edward Snowden [Barton ] Gellman printed a great anecdote: he showed two Google engineers a slide that showed how the NSA was doing this, and the engineers "exploded in profanity." Edward Snowden google nsa two The issue I brought forward most clearly was that of mass surveillance, not of surveillance in general. Edward Snowden surveillance issues mass I don't think political reform is likely to succeed. [Senators Tom] Udall and [Ron] Wyden, on the intelligence committee, have been sounding the alarm, but they are a minority. Edward Snowden succeed political thinking I'm not an anarchist. I'm not saying, "Burn it to the ground." Edward Snowden anarchist We don't like to use the phrase "state security" in the United States because it reminds us of all the bad regimes. But it's a key concept, because when these officials are out on TV, they're not talking about what's good for you. They're not talking about what's good for business. They're not talking about what's good for society. They're talking about the protection and perpetuation of a national state system. Edward Snowden tvs keys talking We have a media that goes along with the government by parroting phrases intended to provoke a certain emotional response - for example, "national security." Everyone says "national security" to the point that we now must use the term "national security." But it is not national security that they're concerned with; it is state security. And that's a key distinction. Edward Snowden emotional government keys [Our system of education ]not designed to create critical thinkers. Edward Snowden thinker critical If even one country, an Iceland for example, defects from this global legislative bargain and says no, we're not going to enforcement mass surveillance here. We're not going to do that. That's where all of the data centres, all the service providers in the world will relocate to. And I think that gives us a real chance to see a more liberal than authoritarian future. Edward Snowden real country thinking The question is: Particularly in the post-9/11 era, are societies becoming more liberal or more authoritarian? Edward Snowden becoming-more eras becoming I've been watching The Wire recently. Edward Snowden wire Too often we forget that social and political movements don't happen overnight. They don't bring change immediately - you have to build a critical mass of understanding of the issues. Edward Snowden issues political understanding If a single Russian source would come forward, he would be in hot water. And in the United States, what I did appearing at that [Vladimir] Putin press conference was not worth the price. Edward Snowden united-states hot water Getting inequality out there into the consciousness was important. All these political pundits now talking about the 2014 and 2016 elections are talking about inequality. Edward Snowden political important talking How do we preserve our civil rights, our traditions as a liberal democracy, in a time when government power is expanding and is more and more difficult to check? Edward Snowden democracy government rights I don't think it's going to be related to social or economic policies; it's going to be the fact that [Barack Obama] said let's go forward, not backward, in regard to the violations of law that occurred under the Bush administration. Edward Snowden administration law thinking The rule of law doesn't mean the police are in charge, but that we all answer to the same laws. Edward Snowden police law mean I've got more than enough for my needs [for social life in Moscow], let's put it that way. Edward Snowden moscow way needs The chairs [in Congress] are part of the "Gang of Eight." They get briefed on every covert-action program and everything like that. They know where all the bodies are buried. At the same time, they get far more campaign donations than anybody else from defense contractors, from intelligence corporations, from private military companies. Edward Snowden eight defense military All those people who went out [to Occupy Wall Street] missed work, didn't get paid. Those were individuals who were already feeling the effects of inequality, so they didn't have a lot to lose. And then the individuals who were louder, more disruptive and, in many ways, more effective at drawing attention to their concerns were immediately castigated by authorities. They were cordoned off, pepper-sprayed, thrown in jail. Edward Snowden wall drawing jail I believe strongly that Occupy Wall Street had such limits because the local authorities were able to enforce, basically in our imaginations, an image of what proper civil disobedience is - one that is simply ineffective. Edward Snowden wall imagination believe
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