Just about every government is corrupt and intrusive, so what a guy to do? Snowden ignored the lessons of Candide and now has some consequences to face. Personally, I think I would of put my nose down and said fuck it to "the people", because they don't deserve better (and better may not exist). Takes some balls to hit the road, or stupidity (or ego or whatever).

Its sad this issue has become about him in any case. It was not an effective way to inform the people of government abuse.

will let freedom luvin Snowden have access to classified information.

Snowden slipped through the first time. I don't think it will happen again.

They don't want him digging into their secrets, oh no, only attacks against the USA allowed

..."of government abuse."

And yet here we are, in the middle of a prolonged and serious discussion of the surveillance state. Not just on DU but in the MSM and around the world.

I get why people don't like that Snowden fled to Hong Kong, and now to Ecuador (probably) via Moscow. But to argue that his methods have been ineffective, is to deny what actually happening.

More to come

...writ large.

Of course we all know our government has spied on China, and that China has spied on us. It's a given. We also know that we and Israel introduced the Stuxnet worm into Iran, to the dismay of computer security experts, who warned that such things tend to get out of control once they are let out.

Personally I don't think he gave that much away to China in terms of strengthening their hand. I have no doubt they were already fully aware that spying was occurring.

But now it is public knowledge. Having the Little People know about all this is what's so infuriating to the powers that be.

Well too damned bad.

It goes like...

Since Snowden is fleeing to a state that is as bad as the one he criticizes, he is therefore a hypocrite. If Snowden is a hypocrite, therefore all information that he has presented is untrue.

...nevertheless, he has been more effective than other whistleblowers who preceded him.

or they tire of him?

For the time being he will not have to worry about board and room, so he doesn't need a job, that is for sure.

Your point is?

1) The surprise being expressed by some that the U.S. is spying on other countries.

2) The pretense that these other countries don't have their own issues, and the U.S. looks good by comparison.

A US embassy cable from March 2009 released by WikiLeaks said there was some truth to Correa’s claim that “the Ecuadorian media play a political role, in this case the role of the opposition”.

The reason was evident: “Many media outlet owners come from the elite business class that feels threatened by Correa’s reform agenda, and defend their own economic interests via their outlets.”

Faced with this scenario, the Correa government, with the backing of its people, has sought to break this monopoly.
One way has been through the establishment of a public TV channel and giving support to community-based media outlets. This has been done via granting them licences and providing them with necessary equipment.

Full article: http://www.setyoufreenews.com/2012/09/04/ecuador-correa-pushes-free-speech-challenges-media-dictatorship/

for providing the truth as always.

You'd think they'd realize people can very easily look this stuff up and find out the real truth behind it.

Here's more, for those who care:

But they're not allowed here for some reason.

Glad you got a Cheap thrill, eh?

He could vanish is a poof of glitter and vapor tonight and the story remains. Those who want to talk about him are those who don't want to talk about the issue.

But yes there are two issues whether what he did and what the government did.
I don't like what either did! I don't trust the government with that kind of power nor do I trust Snowden.

America sucks, until you look at most of the alternatives.

Meantime, Mr. Snowden did put NSA empire building on the map as an issue, and for this he is owed a measure of gratitude.

It's a veritable freedom tour.

Not that it's his fault those countries are the way they are. But it is ironic.