JANUARY 18, 2014

      Many American news media have complained lately about the government's National Security Agency, which spies on all of us, partly at least by tapping all our phones. President Obama has acted now to limit this, though how much is far from clear.

     Obama said the government must now get a court order to tap, though the NSA may well have pet courts which will be happy to issue them.  But the Washington Post says, "Even the most controversial capability, the governments access to bulk telephone records known as metadata, may well be preserved."

     One expert, Anthony Romero of the American Civil Liberties Union, said the president, "backs away from real reform, which is to end this bulk data collection."

     It's a complex issue.  Lawyers will argue over it for years.  I personally would rather increase the risk of enemy attacks than have my government spy on me.  But many will differ.