Q dazzled us all with this pithy insight:

"Ho hum. This kind of spying is world-wide."

Which is precisely why the framers of the US Constitution and Bill of Rights saw fit to add this little ditty:

"The right of the people to be secure in their persons, houses, papers, and effects, against unreasonable searches and seizures, shall not be violated, and no Warrants shall issue, but upon probable cause, supported by Oath or affirmation, and particularly describing the place to be searched, and the persons or things to be seized."

Can you name that tune off the top of your head, Q?

Sure that kind of spying goes on world-wide. But here in the US of A, we enshrined in our Bill of Rights and Constitution that we DID NOT WANT IT TO HAPPEN HERE.

But of course, even enshrining such principles in the Bill of Rights and Constitution are never enough, because the price of freedom in a democracy is constant vigilance regarding what the government is doing to it's citizenry. Which is why in 1978, when government spying upon citizens had created such a public uproar that Congress was forced to close a so-called loophole in the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act. The loophole concerned secret spying authorized by the president on grounds of national security.

On Friday, many in Washington were surprised to learn that despite the 1978 law, the US president and his advisors, yet again, had claimed the power to authorize secret spying within the United States. And now they shall reap that whirlwind.

I find those who bleat loudest for "freedom and democracy" these days, know precious little about either.