As it stands, private corporations collect information, that the government is not allowed to collect in the interest of privacy. However, the government is not barred from purchasing this information from private corporations. Large private corporations that are defence intelligence contractors, can collect whatever info they want, by stealth or purchase.
I assume there is no Democratic office anywhere that is not absolutely compromised, no phone line, no fax line, no internet connection.
When something is attributed to Democrats as a vice, that is everyday ops for Republicans, I just have to laugh. There is no privacy in this nation, especially if it is in an arena that might counter the aims and plans of the corporations that currently run this government.
There are not only listeners, there are also web based information officers, and players hired that play as if they are for real. The three journalists, recently hired by this government are a great example of this brave new way, of controlling information.
Not a word is said in any party headquarters, that isn't heard by someone. The Republicans spy on themselves to make sure the line is being towed, the Democrats are spied on to decide where the line will be drawn.
Like the big bounty offered for the capture or termination of terrorist players, there will also be large bounties paid, for those that catch Democrats in compromising positions. We have descended into a nefarious hell in this nation.