[templar]

Sorry, this is one conservative who was damn glad of it when I had a stalker calling me ...

This isn't even vaguely related to what is being discussed. Court ordered wiretaps aren't the issue, never have been.

[Tamzee]

Wiretaps are wiretaps.... once we've agreed that they are a valid tool of the government, we only have the conditions of their use to debate. Locke said it best... the only reasons for men to gather together as a state are for protection from threats outside of our community and to seek prevention and justice from individuals within that would hurt us or our property.

We wouldn't need governments "were it not for the corruption and viciousness of degenerate men" as Locke so eloquently put it. For governments to perform their essential duty they need to perform surveillance on the bad guys.