The Catch-22 That Prevents Us From Truly Scrutinizing the Surveillance State

Ryan Calo writes:

“That’s some catch, that Catch-22,” he observed.
“It’s the best there is,” Doc Daneeka agreed.

Joseph Heller was writing about crazy times. The setting is World War II and flying dangerous missions over Europe has taken its toll on American pilots. Many are so compromised psychologically that they probably shouldn’t be in the cockpit. And yet none who ask will be grounded: “Anyone who wants to get out of combat duty,” after all, “isn’t really crazy.”

Last week the Supreme Court issued its opinion in Clapper v. Amnesty International, a challenge to the surveillance law that afflicts our crazy times.

Read more on The Atlantic.