Hey, just in the interest of thwarting a false equivalence: I haven't called you names. You have called me names, on this very thread. I'm not super offended and would still buy you a beer in person, but let's all be clear that we're not supposed to be doing that on HN.

You were never called any names. He said you were an apologist. In reading your postings, your comments do strike me as having an overtone of apology for the surveillance state.

In political matters - the power of government vs. the rights of the individual - most people will fall into one of the two groups as a basic mode of operation for their perceptions and personal philosophy. When governments become tyrannical, as the US government is now proving itself to be, the contrast between the two modes becomes starkly delineated.

Authority vs. Liberty is an ancient human argument that is obviously still being played out. Those of us with an unbreakable attachment to Liberty will see any arguments in favor of the current regime as apologia.

"You were never called any names. He said you were an apologist."

Well there you go.