Back to the discussion...

SJL's post is interesting, however, I believe that "surveillance" goes back a lot longer than the 1700s... It is the basis of parenting and being a member of a civilized society... I mean, let's get real here... People watch other people... It's human nature... It's also part of one's or a society's survival skills...

There is no real scandal here... Just acceptance that our powers of observing the actions of others have changed with the changing of technology...

Who cares???

Oh, that's right... The folks calling up wackos to find out how to make a bomb in order to kill a bunch of innocent people...

I mean, lets' get real here... If you aren't making those calls then Google knows a 1000 times more about you than the NSA...

The lesson here is quite simple... Don't be a fucked up wacko and guess what??? The NSA will have no reason to go to a FISA judge to wire tap your phone... Be a fucked up wacko and have your phone tapped...

Duhhhhhhh....

B:~)