There is absolutely no empirical evidence suggesting the snooping ever stopped an attack or anyone was caught with all the information collected
   
 CltLuvr, you are the pussy.

any government agency wants, be it foreign or domestic, terrorist or innocent. DEA is sharing data with the DEA, FBI, DHS and even the freakin' IRS! Now, I'm sure you'd call the IRS an anti-terrorist investigative bastion, eh? And how about sharing our data with foreign governments as well, hmmmm? And all without probable cause or warrants.  

Now, do you think the increased attention upon "Human Trafficking" (in a couple states any prostitution related activity is now essentially called "Trafficking") at the federal level won't result in pressure to obtain your data by zealous and politically-motivated LE eager to make a name for themselves?

It is even worse. There are at least 3 civil suits filed against LE agecies in the US for use of "Stingray" and "Hailstorm" devices to intercept calls... all without a warrant. Think LE won't look up a provider ad, monitor her number via Stingray and record all conversations to make a bust or three? All in the wonderful spirit of "Human Trafficking"! Now who isn't against Human Trafficking?  

The issue is our rights under the Constitution, which have been trampled and ground under jackboot by agencies high and low. Snowden didn't drink the Kool-Aid and acted to alert us to government actions that violate our rights. Even yours. I respect anyone who is willing to stand and act to protect our rights.

Guys like Snowden are the reason we have the ability to speak on a fuck board in the first place, and maybe can retain that free speech right, the right to assemble, the right to associate, the right to be secure in our persons and our letters... without Big Brother using them against us absent probable cause and a warrant.

Truth be told, NSA/DNI have already admitted that such bulk data collection has led to NO terrorist arrests. Just like TSA security theatre has netted no terrorists. So zero protection/arrests versus millions of instances of constitutional rights violations. And we, the taxpayers foot the bill for the totally worthless (nay, damaging) efforts.  

Snowden's a hero of sorts, IMO.

Snowden, stood up for his right as a citizen. If more people stood up for their constitutional rights instead of imbibing the bullshit constantly hurled by the intellectually challenged nut jobs, we would be much better country.  

You can go back to your Neanderthal lifestyle.

The data collection program is too broad a brush and hasn't shown any success towards thwarting terrorism. I'm far from the paranoid conspiracy theorist-type, but due process is an essential component for staving off abuses of power. Show me a warrant, please!