I really hate how no one actually reads the polls. Yes the poll has 74% of respondents saying that the NSA program "intrudes on SOME American's privacy". BUT, the next question asks those who say it intrudes if they think it is justified, and 39% say that it IS justified, 55% say it isn't. This means that only 40% of the population thinks that the NSA is unjustified in how intrusive it is. This is still a lot of people, but it is a lot less than 74%. Of course later on in the poll they ask if it "intrudes on YOUR privacy rights" and 49% say it does, with 28% thinking that this intrusion is justified. Oh AND 57% think it is more important for the government to investigate possible terrorism vs 39% that think it is more important to preserve privacy. For the record, I think the NSA has to massively change what it is doing and that it is invading privacy on a disgusting level. I also believe that if you want this to happen you have to first live in reality and not just pretend that everyone agrees with you. Edit: the poll http://www.washingtonpost.com/page/2010-2019/WashingtonPost/...
I don't understand how some poll stating that any amount of people believe that what the NSA is doing is justifiable makes it ok to violate our 4th amendment rights. Any appeal to popularity is still an appeal to emotion. The amendment clearly states I just can't fathom how any of this is legal. I feel like the tone of your post suggests that the NSA should maintain its current modus operandi as long as it appeases some amount of pollsters. People have revolted over less. There are unchecked civil rights violations occurring literally every second. I don't know what the practical solution is, but pointing to some poll and saying, "hey, some people don't really give a shit about their constitutional rights" in order to validate what's going on fails my litmus test for a strong argument: that it makes sense.The right of the people to be secure in their persons, houses, papers, and effects, against unreasonable searches and seizures, shall not be violated, and no Warrants shall issue, but upon probable cause, supported by Oath or affirmation, and particularly describing the place to be searched, and the persons or things to be seized.
My point was not that it is right or wrong, but that people ignore what polls really say. Give me one example of people revolting over a privacy issue also.