This exchange reminds me of this excerpt from The Simpsons:
Homer: Not a bear in sight. The Bear Patrol must be working like a charm.
Lisa: That's specious reasoning, Dad.
Homer: Thank you, dear.
Lisa: By your logic I could claim that this rock keeps tigers away.
Homer: Oh, how does it work?
Lisa: It doesn't work.
Homer: Uh-huh.
Lisa: It's just a stupid rock.
Homer: Uh-huh.
Lisa: But I don't see any tigers around, do you?
It's a funny thing, we'll never be able to prove one way or another, because if the government reveals any plots they've foiled, it could give out classified details of the system. So in the end, we're left simply to trust an entity that would like to spy on us... It's like a racket.
