The intensifying scandal surrounding the National Security Agency (NSA) reached a fever pitch this weekend as Edward Snowden, a 29-year old defense contractor and IT analyst revealed himself to be the whistleblower behind the top-secret documentation that proved the existence of extensive and potentially illegal surveillance programs. The American programmer, who until recently was known to be hiding out in Hong Kong, has since reportedly fled the hotel he was staying at out of fear of being apprehended by U.S. law enforcement officials.
The Guardian, a U.K.-based news source, broke the original story on Project PRISM and, later, published an extensive interview with Snowden. During the video, the former NSA employee described what he saw as an irrevocable extensive of U.S. government oversight into the lives of Americans. He said that he chose to reveal the information he had stolen not for personal gain but to, in his words, save the country from itself.
"I really want the focus to be on these documents and the debate which I hope this will trigger among citizens around the globe about what kind of world we want to live in," he said. "My sole motive is to inform the public as to that which is done in their name and that which is done against them."
The backlash against Snowden has been bipartisan in nature, including calls from U.S. Rep. Peter King, a Republican who chairs the Homeland Security committee, to have him arrested and tried under the Espionage Act. Whether or not Snowden will be captured and extradited remains to be seen, considering that he is allegedly already on the run.
Once again, these events show how disconnected the government has become from the regular lives of Americans. As such, folks should consider pursuing an independent financial plan, especially if they are approaching retirement. To learn more, those interested may want to download a Free Game Plan Report today.