I have no problem with the condemnation that is being heaped upon the News of the World and its phone-message tapping scheme, but I find an interesting disconnect in the process. First, we are seeing government officials — who do the same thing, except they can inflict more damage than NOW ever could do — leading the chorus. So, the man with the beam in his eye tells the person with the splinter in his eye to clean up the act.

Second, I have found NO mention in the mainstream media of the obvious question: If it is bad for private individuals to hack into someone’s private messages, why is it OK for government agents to do the same thing and more? Please don’t tell me that those folks in the government do it out of highest motives and a sincere desire to protect the rest of us from the bad guys.