Can the government listen into any transmission that it wishes to? Probably, given enough lead time. Can they type my number into some computer and listen to me on the spur of the moment? No. If they had a court order they would be given the assignments for my line and have to physically attach a listening device themselves.
I am just saying in this post that what I actually see being done is just what they say they are doing, no more, no less. Of course we have to keep reign on government but I think the moves to stop the government from collecting calling patterns is misplaced. This is not listening in. This does not cross the line in my mind at least. Bob