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The use of Stingrays (IMSI catchers) and the DEA's collection of international phone records for almost 20 years are more examples of how any power given to law enforcement or the Federal government will be abused, and that abuse will be actively hidden from view.

You can't "find a balance" when the scales are hidden.

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And the problem with data is that they store it. You don't just have to trust the current government, you have to trust all the governments for the next 50 years. At least in Europe, History tells us that a democracy can rapidly turn into a violent dictatorship.

Do you really think, that this can only happen in Europe? (I know, that you meant history, but I am wondering, if humans are so much more democratic in the US? I for my part am sure, that in my country there can be a violent (or covered) dictorship again very soon).

What is interesting in the US is that the composition of the population evolves a lot over time. In Europe too to a lesser degree. One could argue that the US is the oldest (and therefore most stable and rooted) democracy. But as the proportion of the hispanic population grows, from a cultural point of view, Mexico becomes sort of part of the history of the US. And not a long history of democracy there.

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