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[kaijyuu]

Why the hell did the guy think Hong Kong was a good place in the first place?

[GlyphGryph]

Because it actually worked pretty well for him. They DID turn down the US extradition attempt and let him leave the country without any problems.

It sounds like he made a pretty good choice of "place to apply for asylum" from.

[MonkeyHead]

So people, why Ecuador?

[misko27]

Because fleeing to South America is just a thing. People just really like SA. Also, Assange is there I believe.

There really is a difference in who is spying on you. Someone whose power extends to delivering advertisements, and someone's whose power extends to killing you and taking all of your possessions.

No. Listen to me.

This isn't a Dictatorship. This country remains, despite what people believe, a democracy, in the definition of the word. People need to come to terms with the fact that these people are elected, every year, by the people. These programs are, by extension, their will.

If you believe that, it is the will of the people that these things happen. And the people are always right, right?

Oh, and this

The United States had asked Hong Kong authorities to find and detain Mr. Snowden, where he has been in hiding for the past few weeks, but the Hong Kong government said on Sunday that it had requested clarifications about the request and legally could not stop him from boarding the flight to Moscow.

It looks like they simply hadn't decided, as opposed to denying it per se.

[Bauglir]

Oh, and this

The United States had asked Hong Kong authorities to find and detain Mr. Snowden, where he has been in hiding for the past few weeks, but the Hong Kong government said on Sunday that it had requested clarifications about the request and legally could not stop him from boarding the flight to Moscow.

It looks like they simply hadn't decided, as opposed to denying it per se.

My understanding is that that's diplomacy dressing it up in superficially friendly language, while still effectively communicating that they disagree.

[ibot66]

So people, why Ecuador?

Wiki leaks helped facilitate his escape. Ecuador let Assange have asylum there, so there obviously on decent terms.

[GlyphGryph]

If you believe that, it is the will of the people that these things happen. And the people are always right, right?

...no. That is the entire purpose of the Constitution. That a tyranny with popular support is still a tyranny, and why the requirements for the government to do such things require far more than a simple majority of the population or of congress to support them in it. A popular tyranny is still tyranny.

[Scoops Novel]

There's a pretty good "take that" in the press release by the HK government

That press release is pretty awesome.

Roughly: "We're sorry, but we'll need you to fill out some additional papaer work and- oops, he got away. Drat. Now, let us talk about more important issues like how you've been hacking our vital computer systems..."

Agreed, though I feel unusually cynical today. Watching this happen reminds me of George Bergeron, watching his son Harrison on the TV, having his shining moment of freedom and fairness, before the government pulled a series of fast ones on him.

I'll continue hoping for the best, but I have my doubts. Lots of places will just expatriate him to the US, and a fair trial is never going to happen here.

To be honest, I'm doubtful of this. Anything less then a open fair trial in the states would at a guess cause uproar with the amount of attention paid to this. You'd think the best way from stopping a crowd gathering would be to give him a fair trial far away (preferably stretching it out), but then again this is an extremely easy hole to pick.

[misko27]

If you believe that, it is the will of the people that these things happen. And the people are always right, right?

...no. That is the entire purpose of the Constitution. That a tyranny with popular support is still a tyranny, and why the requirements for the government to do such things require far more than a simple majority of the population or of congress to support them in it. A popular tyranny is still tyranny.

First, exactly. The people are not, always right (in direct opposition to statements written by the people who wrote the Constitution, I might add). Secondly, But then, who defines what is right? Who decides that a system or a government, or a policy is unjust or correct? You? I have the same claim to being right that you do, as does anyone else. And who and how would one decide? And who decides how we decide? Without some sort of mandate, from the people, or God, or the educated, or something, there is no way to determine what is a good policy, or anything.

Simply put, if you take away the people you lose the only thing that makes you more right then a guy advocating abolishment of all Science.   If the average, the majority doesn't make decisions it legitimizes the extreme.

[Scoops Novel]

Since i think it's been made clear/fairly obvious that everyone else is doing this, how do you think that's going to affect the response in changes to legislation etc?

[Sheb]

To be honest, I'm doubtful of this. Anything less then a open fair trial in the states would at a guess cause uproar with the amount of attention paid to this. You'd think the best way from stopping a crowd gathering would be to give him a fair trial far away (preferably stretching it out), but then again this is an extremely easy hole to pick.

Yeah, like Bradley Manning, the guy got a fair, speedy trial. 

[Scoops Novel]

More attention has been paid, a more eye-grabbing leak has been made, and there's less of an argument against, Snowden. Hell there's even been a chase to report on. Was there much in the way of protests against the handling of Manning's trial?

[misko27]

He was also a military personnel, while Snowsden is a civilian.

[Scoops Novel]

Apparently Snowdon's staying overnight in Moscow, according to the BBC intending to fly to Ecuador tomorrow. Why are the Russian's being so lax? It will only fan the flames of accusations of traitor, and bringing up this argument with/subbing America has unclear benefits.

[ChairmanPoo]

If you believe that, it is the will of the people that these things happen. And the people are always right, right?

...no. That is the entire purpose of the Constitution. That a tyranny with popular support is still a tyranny, and why the requirements for the government to do such things require far more than a simple majority of the population or of congress to support them in it. A popular tyranny is still tyranny.

First, exactly. The people are not, always right (in direct opposition to statements written by the people who wrote the Constitution, I might add). Secondly, But then, who defines what is right? Who decides that a system or a government, or a policy is unjust or correct? You? I have the same claim to being right that you do, as does anyone else. And who and how would one decide? And who decides how we decide? Without some sort of mandate, from the people, or God, or the educated, or something, there is no way to determine what is a good policy, or anything.

Balances, checks. And accountability. And a big part in those is played by whistleblowers that shine a spotlight on the worst policies enacted by people supposedly at the service of the people yet all too often with secondary agendas.