yes, they are.

and they always will, until Snowden becomes more meaningful to Joe Public than Kardashian.

which will never ever happen.

use cash (don't leave prints -- nitrile gloves are cheap)

and buy from an area you don't normally frequent in any sort of discernible pattern.

also, USB condoms ( syncstop.com ) are a very good idea when charging anything.

even in your own home, since the state's tentacles can reach you there too.

( en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Broadband_over_power_lines )

unless you're off-grid entirely?

then you might stand a chance, at least once you have enough common-bore ammo stockpiled (a much better asset than gold ... about on par with whiskey, beans, cipro, and cephalexin).

but, only if you can figure out how to get their stuff out of the damn water supply first.

cheers, brotherman.

R.