Day to day Quote by Edward Snowden
“I'm just another guy who sits there day to day in the office, watching what's happening, and goes, 'This is something that's not our place to decide.' The public needs to decide whether these programs or policies are right or wrong,”
About This Quote
Source Interview: 2013 Documentary "Citizenfour", 2014
He argues that democratic legitimacy requires public participation in policy decisions, not just expert or governmental authority.
In simple terms: Public should decide policies, not officials alone.
Key Takeaway
Encourage public debate on tech policies.
Themes
democracy
transparency
citizen rights
Mood
concerned
serious
Type
political
ethical
When to use this quote
- legislative hearings
- public forums
- online petitions
Key Concepts
public participation
policy legitimacy
ethical governance
Questions to Reflect On
- How can citizens be better informed?
- What mechanisms ensure informed public input?
A Different Perspective
Public may lack expertise to assess complex programs.
![“[Brazil] went to the UN and said, "We need new standards for this." We need to take a look at what they're calling "data sovereignty."” quote by Edward Snowden](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/af7/edward-snowden-555_brazil_brazil-went-to-the-un-and-said-we-need-n_14906.jpg)
![“There was a real choice when [Barack Obama] became president. It was a very difficult choice - to say, "We're not going to hold senior officials to account with the same laws that every other citizen in the country is held to," or "This is a nation that believes in the rule of law."” quote by Edward Snowden](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/104/edward-snowden-555_accounts_there-was-a-real-choice-when-barack-obam_27838.jpg)
