Vermont Senator Bernie Sanders shared his concerns for the future of the United States in light of the revelations of the NSA surveillance program, "PRISM," on MSNBC's "All In With Chris Hayes" Monday night.

Sanders warned of the "Orwellian" future he sees as looming for the United States if it continues to record its citizens' activities in the name of national security.

The Independent Senator argued that too much focus on NSA whistleblower Edward Snowden -- how he leaked the information and how the government should or will deal with him -- distracts from the more fundamental questions raised by his disclosures about the NSA.

"The question is what freedom and liberty mean in the United States of America? What does our constitution mean? What kind of country do we want to be?" Sanders said.

"Kids will grow up knowing that every damn thing that they do is going to be recorded somewhere in a file, and I think that will have a very Orwellian and inhibiting impact on our lives," he argued.

Sanders was clear that he considers terrorism to be a serious threat to the United States, but added that it doesn't mean it's worth sacrificing the bill of rights.

"I want our law enforcement people to be vigorous in going after terrorists," Sanders said. "But I happen to believe they can do that without disregarding the constitution of the United States or the civil liberties of the American people."

It's always heartening to hear the tenacious Senator Sanders speak so passionately of his concerns for Americans and our nation's future.