Why do people insist on having the "corrupt" governments get hacked by these people? Last I checked, the people of a democratic nation choose who runs their government. Don't like the policies being passed (PATRIOT,No Child Left Behind,ObamaCare)? Then don't vote for the people who write those policies.
People seem to LOVE to criticize a government in which only 1/2 of the voting population actually partakes in voting. The corruption in private businesses I can understand because the average person has no say in the dealings of the company. But to combat corruption in government, all you have to do is make an EDUCATED vote. And you have to convince others to do the same. Shed the media bias, shed the party system, and shed your personal bias. Just educate yourself on the front runners in an election and choose the most qualified individual. The REAL corrupt thing, in America at least, is the that the parties control the election process. You have to be sponsored by the GOP or the Democratic Party to have a shot at getting elected.....it shouldn't be this black and white.
But hacking the government won't do anything except cause those in power to strengthen their hold on their office. And I would bet any of these self-purported "hacktivists" who defend these sociopaths and who in fact probably know nothing about computer security would change their view immediately after learning that all of THEIR personal information has been leaked on internet for the world to see.
And I don't believe that hacking the private businesses will do any good either. What will end up happening is these companies will hike up their prices on products because they have to spend more money securing their systems (which wouldn't have to be secured if not for these guys) and start paying all of the fines the governments will charge them to make up for the money lost in Identity Thefts (which will happen when all of this information is released).
This is not the way to stand up to corrupt businesses. You know how you can stand up them??? DON'T BUY THEIR PRODUCTS.
/endrant