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> we don't know if the security services blackmail politicians, and other influential or powerful people.

It doesn't need to be so one-sided, some Senate and House members may in fact be benefiting greatly from the NSA's spying (eg: manipulating the stock market by using their exclusive access to private information), and in exchange the NSA continues their work with impunity and without oversight. It's a symbiotic relationship where they're benefiting from each-other.



> A 2004 study found that stock sales and purchases by Senators outperformed the market by 12.3% per year. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Insider_trading#Insider_trading...


You forgot to add the [citation needed] at the end of that sentence.


Very good point. Carrot and stick. Even more reason to try to secure more openness.




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