Before Edward Snowden took off to China with his computers and inside knowledge, I had been telling you about the capabilities of our government spying. I even told you how easy it is to buy a drone with a camera and spy on your neighbors.

There are some who think I am one of those theory-conspiracy nuts running around building my Armageddon cave. Not really, I just have a good knowledge of what today’s technology is capable of.

If I say they are monitoring all computer e-mail, some will say, “I don’t think so” …But if I tell you about a recent Time Magazine article on what the NSA can do (without your knowledge) they might believe me.

They can determine path of travel and your travel companions from mobile devices on cell towers and they can tap into fiber optic transmissions, store e-mails, user names, passwords and all social media.

They can track your bank transactions, your home phone, and even the pictures you send to on your cell phone. Records from Verizon, AT&T and other carriers is not sacred from Big Brother’s probing ears and eyes, including e-mail addresses, contacts, messages and lists.

Your security system at work or home and your security cameras that use IP addresses can be tapped in too.

You probably don’t have a satellite, but you use them indirectly, and that information can be monitored as easily as your CB radios and walkie-talkies.

All of this surveillance should be subject to court orders or warrants supported by probable cause… but is it? (Very doubtful!) Of course there are people these days that say, “I don’t have anything to hide, so I don’t mind.”

I just can’t imagine people giving up their rights to privacy so easily, and some are comfortable with constitutional rights fading away. Think of the thousands who have lost their lives fighting for those rights.

We are afraid of terrorism and depend on our leaders to protect us from threats… but where is the line on protecting us from our leaders?

There will always be an Edward Snowden out there somewhere… compromising, selling or giving away the private and personal information collected from us.