Which makes the fact they were listening "in" on customers even more offensive.

Seems a couple of postmasters up in Everett and Marysville thought it'd be a good idea to eavesdrop on conversations between clerks and customers.

Apparently, when Mr. "Al-Kayda" would come in with a package to mail, the clerks were forgetting to ask questions about the possible shipment of hazardous materials (and isn't THAT an unnerving thought in this day and age!).

Anyway, the postal-powers-that-be figured, 'hey, let's go out and buy us some of those baby monitors, set them up at the front desk, and see if the clerks are finally doing things right.'

The clerks were told about this.

The customers were not.

There were no signs posted; no warnings that what people said was being secretly shared with someone who had their ear at the other baby monitor in the back.

Well...lick...my...stamps.

I don't know about you, but I get kinda 'bristly' with different arms of the government coming up with excuses about why my privacy doesn't mean diddly-squat.

The U.S. Postal Service says no one's complained about the now discontinued eavesdropping.

Maybe that's due to the fact NO ONE KNEW ABOUT IT!

Now that it is known, count this as at least one complaint.

Are you listening now?

Want to share your thoughts with Ken Schram? You can e-mail him at kenschram@komo4news.com