Is Prism a reverse hoax?

I always figure things out before everyone else, but I never tell anyone about it. This time is going to be different.

Which is more likely:

1. Our government actually thinks they could keep a monstrous scam like Prism a secret from the masses?


2. Or the possibility that our government is willing to take a black eye PR wise in order to make bad guys *think* that they are being monitored therefore making their lives more difficult with relatively little effort?

I would actually be pretty impressed if the latter were to be the case. I'm way too cynical to believe it, but wouldn't that be great to find out that our government is actually doing all this to scam the terrorist?

This is similar to what I have heard said that Ronald Regan did to the Soviets with the Star Wars project. Made them think we were dumping tons of research into this project to the point they couldn't compete and they tore down that wall.

Here's hoping.