Not that we need another reason to distrust our secret government agencies, but here is a great example of why we shouldn’t have unchecked power in the NSA.
According to this article, the former head of the NSA held investments in small hi tech companies that specialized in cloud and surveillance technology. This action doesn’t even come close to being ethical – and that Obama himself signed a waiver to try to hide this under the guise of ‘National Security’ should lead any citizen to wonder why we have this shadow instutition with no oversight.
Ars Technica has a great addendum to this article , noting that this former head has now founded his own company which offers cyber security protection. In the article a great quote from Representative Alan Grayson of Florida:
Disclosing or misusing classified information for profit is, as Mr. Alexander well knows, a felony. I question how Mr. Alexander can provide any of the services he is offering unless he discloses or misuses classified information, including extremely sensitive sources and methods. Without the classified information that he acquired in his former position, he literally would have nothing to offer to you
Well put. How many other examples of misuse of unchecked power exists in the US Governments intelligence organization?