What necessity is met or benefit is derived from the military/NSA/FBI/police infiltrating and spying on domestic activist groups?

Asked by kevbo (25672

) July 28th, 2009 from iPhone

This is nothing new, as is mentioned in the transcript this sort of thing happened in the 70s, and probably has always happened in one form or another. I guess I’m wondering what the reasoning is from “law” enforcement’s POV. Is this an application broken windows theory? Are activists targeted because they aren’t following the instructions on their televisions? Is this a preventive way of protecting the metaphoric flow of commerce? Or is it just important to have intelligence on absolutely everything?

What is the mindset of a police officer or FBI agent that infiltrates these groups? Is it just a job, a lame assignment, or do they really believe they are making America safe for democracy?

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6 Answers

Well it means they can keep a check up on how popular you’re growing, and work out whether or not they need to shut down worthy causes which people really believe in “for the greater good” or “for our protection.”

Point5r (142

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They do it to keep the status quo. It’s been happening since the 1700’s (whiskey rebellion…) so it’s obviously nothing new.

Those that spy/wiretap/eavesdrop benefit from the way the system’s set up, so of course they’ll keep it as such without regard of privacy.

kenmc (11773

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It sucks, and shouldn’t happen.

Zaku (30353

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Experience hath shewn, that even under the best forms of government those entrusted with power have, in time, and by slow operations, perverted it into tyranny.
Thomas Jefferson

ABoyNamedBoobs03 (7543

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