well I'm sure you get the picture. What was once considered paranoid is now not just expected but in some cases a given. Thanks again for your detailed reply as well as the way in which you expressed it. Likewise, your objectivity and non ranting presentation is appreciated and valued. Natalie I appreciated your in depth analysis of both Orwell's masterpiece, 1984, as well as our current situation regarding privacy in our country. It is interesting to me that the machinery of the government apparatus doesn't realize itself to be intrusive beyond its rights I just noticed that I even speak of the government as a machine. It, and the people who comprise it, see the intrusions as a means to achieving greater security. Our government, however, is ostensibly governed by "the people. " This makes the issue even more problematic given all the diversity and difference in our society. It was probably easier early on in our country's history because most people shared a common set of general values, eg being married before living together,not having children out of wedlock, serving in the military, and so on. There are so many moving parts to our system now, it's hard to keep track of them all.