"If you're out there, think about acting on your conscience as Snowden and others did. Your position is stronger than ever. You'll have support from the EFF, ACLU, Guardian, and most of this community."
I think that's an awful lot to ask of somebody, considering what happened to Snowden: he was charged with some very serious crimes and will probably have to remain in exile indefinitely. If the government ever catches him, or if the Russians decide they don't want him around anymore, he may have to spend the rest of his life in prison. The resources of the EFF, ACLU and The Guardian are tiny compared to what the U.S. government can throw at him (the government has essentially unlimited resources). Someone who is as brave and selfless as Snowden is indeed rare, and I think it's unlikely that we'll see his actions repeated in the foreseeable future.
I think that's an awful lot to ask of somebody, considering what happened to Snowden: he was charged with some very serious crimes and will probably have to remain in exile indefinitely. If the government ever catches him, or if the Russians decide they don't want him around anymore, he may have to spend the rest of his life in prison. The resources of the EFF, ACLU and The Guardian are tiny compared to what the U.S. government can throw at him (the government has essentially unlimited resources). Someone who is as brave and selfless as Snowden is indeed rare, and I think it's unlikely that we'll see his actions repeated in the foreseeable future.