What did those poor black holes do to you that they deserve that?

Assuming a state government would be less intrusive if given sovereignty?

On topic: really not sure what the legal basis is for something this broad, unless there's specific evidence that Verizon's network compared to others is being used to facilitate crimes or threats to national security

More control over the state than the feds who ignore the consitution. At least in my state. More accountability. not some grossly over grown government with trillions in debt. Stupid EPA rules, Gestapolike angencies like IRS, NSA. I trust my state reps more, i met some of them, know some and work with a few in different ways. Not saying they can be without corruption, but as it stands now, i wouldnt break a fart for defending this government.

I have nothing to hide, search them please if it will foil another terrorist attack. Only criminals will mind.

That's a poor excuse. 

http://chronicle.com/article/Why-Privacy-Matters-Even-if/127461/

Opon further reading from what i can tell, they basically seem to have done was instead of just supeoning everyones phone records.

They supeoned everyones phone records MINUS their names.  Which then gets much less scrutiny and needs less evidenciary reasoning.

Then supeoned everyones names and phone numbers seperatly. 

A little digital scanning + database work later..... and you have everyones phone records.

Though hey, that's what the 55,000+ Employees and 8 billion+ secret budget is for.

You have security clearance, you should work for them.  I be they make KILLER money.  You'd have to move to DC or Utah though.

it is manipulation at its finest.

Even worse now we have proof they are actually looking at what we do online:

http://www.cnn.com/2013/06/06/politics/nsa-internet-mining/index.html

"(CNN) -- U.S. intelligence agencies operated a broad data-mining program that extracted e-mail, photos and other private communications from some of the biggest Internet companies, American and British newspapers reported Thursday.

The agencies got access to the central servers of nine major firms, including Microsoft, Apple, Google, Yahoo and Facebook, the Guardian and The Washington Post reported. The Post said it had been provided a detailed briefing presentation document on the program, called PRISM.

The program has been running since 2007 and has undergone "exponential growth" since then, the Post reported. It is now the leading source of raw material for the National Security Agency, the secretive U.S. intelligence operation that monitors electronic communications."

this story is just coming up now.

Except most people aren't happy anymore, what with higher unemployment, natural disasters getting worse and a economy which is not healing due to destructive policies like austerity. I guess you are right the elite can do what they want, but if things don't generally improve people will take matters into their own hands. Not neccesarily revolution but just refuse to comply by government and law. People are often swayed by hope in a desperate time, especially if things don't improve. It's why politicial extremists, anarchists, communists and fascists end up gaining power. I don't think it's that bad in Western Europe or America yet, that people believe in those ideologies but they are certainly disillusioned. As you say most people aren't that interested, but that ain't surprising when all they see are 2 parties of the same corporate wing, an alternative is needed. The media needs a true alternative as well, they seem to also cover up what bad shit happened or say it when something bad is happening. Alot like how companies like Apple were found to avoid taxes just when the Boston explosion happened. funny that. 

I will give several examples why you are wrong.

Say one party is in power and an opposing politican is suddenly calling a heart doctor quite a bit.  Suddenly the other side has a huge piece of info they can exploit for political gain.  "Senator X has undisclosed heart problems he's to old/sick to be in government.  There are tons of political implications for this.

Say your having an affair.  They can find out via phone records when they shouldnt.  Or just a woman you call a lot?

Say you call a phone sex line.

Say you order embarrising things online.

Really this gives one side in power an immense political advantage should they choose to use it, and nobody would be the wiser.  If you don't think a political part would do such a thing... just watch the news.

Hell, or go back to the election.  Harry Reid claimed he saw MItt Romney's tax returns.  No way for that to have happened except an IRS official breaking the  law for expressly political reasons.