Why NSA Spying is Indefensible

Mr. Snowden (whether hero or traitor is a subject for another day, but I remind you about Daniel Ellsberg – Google him) has blown the NSA's cover: they are indiscriminately gathering phone records on all Americans. Over the weekend, I heard several defenses and justifications for same, to wit:

1. it is being closely monitored by all 3 branches of government
2. the authorizing law has all sorts of safeguards built in
3. the wiretaps are listened to only when there is reason to be suspicious
4. it is a very effective tool for ferreting out the bad guys

All, perhaps, are true, but they beg the question. The issue is not about a carefully crafted law or its utility, but rather: should it be allowed in the first place? To all those (liberal and conservative, Republican and Democrat) who spouted one or more of the above, I have these snippy retorts:

1. in the same manner that the West Wing is carefully monitoring the IRS to ensure professional and objective behavior by all IRS employees in the Exempt Organizations Unit?
2. So did the Titanic and the Hindenburg
3. It is OK for me to take videos of your wife/husband showering, as long as I do not look at them?
4. Unless of course you are brothers from Chechnya whose last name is Tsarnaev, whose danger was previously communicated to you by the NKVD (or whatever they are calling themselves these days)

I quote from the US Constitution (follow along in your pocket copy of the Constitution; you do have one, don't you?):

Amendment IV
The right of the people to be secure in their persons, houses, papers, and effects, against unreasonable searches and seizures, shall not be violated, and no Warrants shall issue, but upon probable cause, supported by Oath or affirmation, and particularly describing the place to be searched, and the persons or things to be seized.

I remember a quote from Henry Kissinger, SecState to Nixon and Ford, who said in 1975:

The illegal we do immediately; the unconstitutional takes a little longer.

Then thou art congruent with Machiavelli that the ends justify the means (to answer your next question: the principle comes fromThe Prince, but he does not use these exact words)? Yes, I am looking at you, Senators Kyle and Feinstein.