what's the big deal?

a lot of people seem upset about the NSA caller database (or at least the media wants us to think that). here are my thoughts on that:

*i really like rob's term "on the envelope information." from what i understand, the NSA is looking at where the call came from, where it went to, and probably the length of the call. when you mail a letter, the post office can see: where you're mailing it from, where you're sending it to, when it was sent, and (on one end, at least) when it was recieved. so can the mail man/letter carrier who delivers it.

*if you go into a bank to open an account, the bank will collect more information than that about you: physical address, social security number, driver's license or state ID number, and at least in the case of my bank, your mother's maiden name, among other things. so, if you stop and think about it, the NSA is less invasive than your bank.

*if you order something online, you generally need to give your physical and/or mailing address, phone number, credit or debit card number, etc. so the NSA is also less invasive than ebay.

*and, a good standard one. USA today claims the NSA is "amassing information about the calls of ordinary Americans"; i say, if they actually are ordinary Americans, they have nothing to worry about.