TBH, it is really only in HN threads I hear about any dissent. Snowden hasn't been pardoned and most of US appears against what he did. But China is universally seen as a repressive regime (which it probably is).

> healthy degree of dissent

Hardly, to be honest. Most folks dont care about surveillance at all, and ask for more state powers.

With the media (and gov't, and everyone else) bombarding non-tech Americans about how dangerous cyberterrorism could be, with the ISIS social media accounts ready to snatch up your children... I'm entirely unsurprised there are many people who would be willing to give up their privacy for "safety."

If only there were a way we could inform Americans that they aren't actually doomed.