[billorites]

I admire Rand Paul for a variety of reasons, but I'm not so sure about this.

The more I think about it, the less a problem I have with what the government has done as regards collecting and retaining metadata and the like.

When they start opening my mail and monitoring my coversations then I'll have a major complaint. Attempting to cast a wide net to establish connections among the bad guys is exactly what I want them to be doing.

[NewHampshireDuo]

You might be interested in this analysis of the effectiveness of the NSA metadata collection program:

http://politicalscience.osu.edu/faculty/jmueller/NSAshane3.pdf

Secret without Reason and Costly without Accomplishment:
Questioning the National Security Agency’s Metadata Program

[cookcounty]

"collecting and retaining metadata and the like."

Which includes a record of your precise location and that of virtually everyone else. That is serious invasion of privacy. Would it be okay with you if the government sent an agent to follow you 24/7 and record your whereabouts?

"Oh no worries, he always stays out of earshot" wouldn't strike me as all that comforting.

[Farnsworth]

My understanding is the government scans all communications for keywords, so your stuff is being looked at and I’m assuming your not a bad guy.

[trebb]

I admire Rand Paul for a variety of reasons, but I'm not so sure about this. The more I think about it, the less a problem I have with what the government has done as regards collecting and retaining metadata and the like. When they start opening my mail and monitoring my coversations then I'll have a major complaint. Attempting to cast a wide net to establish connections among the bad guys is exactly what I want them to be doing.

You are assuming that they really stop at metadata - what basis for such trust?