The devastating thing about all of this is that it is coming from liberals and they are pointing directly at Obama for destroying our rights.  

I have lost the most sleep over the fact that we have a president who is hellbent on radically changing this country, passes unconstitutional legislation to relieve us of burdensome freedoms, and uses federal power to retain his own power. This coupled with the fact that we have a citizenry so removed from the brutal realities faced elsewhere in the world that being politically informed is a bother. Obama and the like continue to get elected, either by voters who are tuned out, voters who are dependent on government, and repeat voters - as national elections are enforced solely by the honor system.

however, I think I'll wait for the historians to make that judgement vs. Snowden, this author and this rag that he writes in. Not, that I don't think that the government snooping on us, illegally, is a big problem. I just wish we'd see the same condemnation of those companies you've probably never heard of, who are collect probably as much data on you and I as the government is.

...is that the corporations don't take an oath to protect and defend the constitution and our rights. I am guessing you would hold an elected official, the leader of the "free world", to a higher standard than a business. At least I hope you would

The federal government, on the other hand...

He also has sworn to protect us. Have those companies done so? Noooooo! Nor, all the hackers hacking into companies databases and mining our financial, spending, and health info. Who do you trust more with that information? Someone who has sworn to protect you or someone who has not We live in a much different world than we did before 9/11. There will be disputes regarding who much freedom we need to give up to be protected. When they wrote the constitution, did they have in mind the treats we face today? And, you don't think Congress knows most, if not all of what's going on?

And, yes companies can. I recently caught a few charges that I didn't recognize, on my bank statement. Come to find out, they were charges from a company that supposedly checks your credit rating for free, that is until the trial membership is up, then they start charging a monthly fee. Well, someone used my debit card number for the service, and the company didn't even check to see if the card number matched the identity of person using the service. Fortunately, I got my money back, but yes they can take you money. And, just as bad, and at times even worse is they can ruin your credit.

Could you help us identify some of the “destruction” this caused?

By "deception" yes, by "force" no.

Forcing a person to either pay up or go to jail like the IRS does, now that is taking your money by force.

Well, that's how the game works. You don't have to like, but you do have to play.

If it's no big deal, why are so many liberals pissed off and feel like Obama has betrayed them? How in the world has Obama united the far right and the far left on an issue?

I simply pointed out to Matt that Government can take your money by "force" whereas a corporation can not. Please try to keep up.

That's been a fact of life for as long as I can remember.

It's funny, sometimes I find myself agreeing with FatBoy that Mari is a fake lawyer, and other times I find myself thinking that only a real lawyer could take the positions he takes on some issues and argue them with a straight face.

I don't feel the "Liberal" are as up in arms as you think. Some are bothered but I don't think they're running around with their hair on fire over this. So you're taking this like some board with a bad hair day, calling it the WORST??..... dude chill

You are either out of touch or in denial. From Matt Damon to michael Moore to Harvey Weistein to Tavis Smiley. They don't even talk about Bush anymore.  

But they aren't jumping on the GOP band wagon. They're not going to disown the party and for that matter the Pres....Like I said, to call it the "worst"..you must be having a bad hair day...And I hate that term "Bro".....it's so 80's.

to “isn’t it a big deal”?  

Stay focused Mari. It is you saying it's no biggie, not I. Confused about your own position that fast? Lol.

This would have been of interest before the 2012 election, this didn't happen before then so it's not.

If you learn anything about Monsanto,   you will see  this is this exactly what they do to the farmers. They sell them the seeds from  the many seed company they have boughten up over the years,  then the farmer shall be treated as a hardened criminal, (Monsanto/FDA go in guns drawn, yes they are one and the same)  if they are even suspected of keeping a seed accidentally.  Then they/the farmer must pay,  meaning "are forced" to pay 30% of all monies on yearly crop (and for those that think the farmer is making the money? Nada)

No such person exists or ever existed or ever will

in the US they can. For that matter, police can seize you property under the Federal Civil Forfeiture Act without a court order and never have to return it.

Bro is out, duder is in.  

I have clues to spare. I wish you would let me give you one.

Can I say it in a 'figurative' sense?  lol

Figurative or not, there is a HUGE difference.

Nice attempt at mental gymnastics though.

The rest of my remark was just rifting on the confusion some people here have had on the difference between the terms 'literally vs. figuratively, and they misuse them. Just trying to add a little humor.