Is Big Brother watching? Maybe not, but if the Federal Bureau of Investigation gets its wishes, Big Bro may be listening in the near future.

Crime has been the focal point of much debate in recent years, as we continue to see criminal acts in this country being committed at an alarming and shameful rate.

Our law enforcement officers are besieged every day by caring citizens urging them to do something about the absurd rate of crime in America.

But the key to combatting crime is that while we must find effective anti-crime measures, we are doing so to insure the safety and civil rights of the law-abiding populace.

The FBI’s proposed plan to expand its wire-tapping system to have access to approximately one out of every 100 phone lines in the country. And while there is the “check and balance” of law enforcement officials being required to obtain court orders to gain access to someone’s phone lines, is the federal government going too far in violating the rights of its citizens?

“The full implementation (of this plan) is absolutely essential for law enforcement and public safety.

Always be wary when someone in government tells you they’re doing something for your own good. It’s not always for your own benefit, nor is it always good.