Why can’t they answer these questions?

Major U.S. telephone carriers refused to answer questions from the Democratic-led Congress about their possible participation in President Bush’s warrantless domestic spying program, according to documents released by lawmakers Monday.

At issue are reports that surfaced last year that some big telephone companies allowed the U.S. government access to millions of telephone records for Bush’s antiterror efforts following the September 11, 2001 attacks on the United States.

Officials from AT&T, Verizon Communications and Qwest Communications International told the House Energy and Commerce Committee they could not discuss specifics about their companies’ roles in any such effort.

They cannot discuss specifics because the specifics of how much they are spying on you would very likely make you blush. If your cell phone company is allowing you to be spied on, won’t that open up a market for cell phone companies and alternative services who would actually protect the privacy of your communications?