Edward Snowden and the Importance of Whistleblowers

Some times debate is the most healthy thing to do before pursuing action. In the case of the NSA scandal there seemed to be a lot of outrage followed by a large yawning indifference to do anything. This was concerning to me for several reason. The constant surveillance combined with an increasingly militarized SWAT team police mentality and corporate prisons-for-profit has created the perfect storm to destroy civil rights. America is moving toward a system which monitors and keeps its citizens on edge all the time, merciless beats and punishes them with paramilitary Rambo cops, shackles them with enormous debt, and then earns profit on putting as many people away as possible for as long as conceivable thanks to mandatory sentences.

In a series of videos I finished for Learn Liberty this summer, we wanted to examine the NSA scandal and the broader implications for our society. Fortunately Yeshiva University Professor James Otteson came and served as the expert on these issues.

I wrote and produced these videos. The talented Tafadzwa Chiriga directed and edited, while Angela Cobb was featured in videos with the voice of Professor Otteson.

I'm hoping this is the first series in many that examines these many dangerous facets that have become a part of our normal life so that we can begin to change things for the better.

No Means No: The NSA Scandal, Edward Snowden, and Privacy

This summer has been a challenging one for liberty. From the rolling back of the Voting Rights Act for Black voters in the south, to the challenges and controversy of "Stop N' Frisk" it seems like there's a direct frontal assault on basic rights. But the most dangerous reveal has been from the Edward Snowden leaks about the NSA spying on potentially millions of people without warrant or probable cause.

 I wanted to say something so I approached Learn Liberty about putting out a bunch of videos this summer and fall that addresses how are liberties are under attack. I wrote and produced this first video with the very talented filmmaker Tafadzwa Chiriga who shot and edited these videos.  Yeshiva University professor Jim Otteson offers his advice and wisdom.