The Southeast Missourian's online poll asked, "Should the U.S. government have access to phone records without a court order?" Due to rounding, percentages may not add up to 100. (581 votes)

* 60.1 percent: No

* 37.0 percent: Yes

* 2.9 percent: Undecided

Posted comments:

* "If you have nothing to hide, there shouldn't be a problem. Also if the government sticks to terrorism links as the red flag in the calls, it should be even less of a problem. People need to start getting over the "It's my freedom" garbage and start using that freedom for good instead of self-righteousness. Get a life, people!"

* "To have rights we need to defend them! Privacy is a right."

* "What ever happened to that little thing called civil rights? Gone by the wayside with Bush and his cronies."

* "If you are not doing anything wrong why worry? But we do deserve the right to our privacy. It's a double-edged sword!"

* "Between the illegal Mexicans and the communism right around the corner, who cares any more?"

* "With George W. Bush as president ... are you kidding?"

* "If I cannot obtain my neighbor's phone records, no one should have the right to obtain mine."

* "If the U.S. government has access and listens in on our private phone conversations. What will be next? Getting arrested for saying bad things about our president? How about lining up three or four people who oppose Bush and shoot them in the street? We might as well take down the U.S. flag and put up a Nazi or a Russian flag and become communists."

* "This question is not valid in the context of the original complaint. NSA will be accessing only if one of the phone numbers is possibly terror related. In order to do that they have to record everything. We must fight with the weapons available."

* "It's been heard by the Supreme Court already -- in the '70s or '80s, that records of calls made are not confidential and not in need of search warrants. They can look at the records all they want if they can prevent another 9-11."

* "As years go by, society gets worse. And because of this privacy decreases more and more. This question makes me angry thinking about it. Society is not going to get better if our privacy is invaded!"

* "If it will protect us from terrorists, then of course."

* "I have nothing to hide."

* "Why should they need records of average citizens? If a person was a known threat, yes, but ordinary citizens,that is a waste of time, money and integrity."

* "I don't own a phone."

* "Yes, I'm sure they aren't checking to see if you made it to Grandma's house."

* "Orwell predicted what is going on by the Republicans. Instead of "1984" it should have been titled 'When Bush and the neo-cons came to rule.'"

* "Bush is getting out of control."

* "It's unconstitutional and this isn't the former Soviet Union!"

* "Absolutely not!"

* "I believe the primary reason for checking the records is directed to possible terrorists. As with everything it has good and bad sides, there are those who may abuse it and your life may be saved because of it."

* "I don't have anything to hide. If it will help our country against terrorism, it is ok."

* "Communism is here."

* " Yes, protect me and my country."

* "Three words: invasion of privacy."