Unjust Laws, Unjust Power

What should we do with unjust laws: obey them, change them, or defy them?

Issue #1: How much surveillance is necessary? How much surveillance is too much?

Sources on issue #1:
"Here's How We Take Back the Internet" a TED Talk with Edward Snowden

"Why Snowden Won’t (and Shouldn’t) Get Clemency" an opinion piece by Fred Kaplan

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Your assignment:

After taking notes on Snowden's talk and Kaplan's opinion piece, respond to the following question in a Google Doc titled "Did Snowden Do the Right Thing?"

Did Edward Snowden do the right thing when he broke the law* and an oath^ to share classified documents about National Security Agency (NSA) surveillance with several news outlets?

Your response should include a clear answer to the question. Then, explain your answer logically. Support your explanation with details from your notes about Snowden's talk and Kaplan's opinion piece. Your respond should be 300+ words in length. 

You'll work on your response in class on Thursday (9/25) and Friday (9/26). If necessary you will finish the response at home.

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* He is accused of stealing government property and violating the 1917 Espionage Act.

^ To work at the NSA he signed an oath stating that he would not disclose classified information.