Think
I like the post about the politicians thinking one way on one topic and another way on a similar topic. This is very true. It's our fault though, when we keep electing these idiots.
Discussing the metadata and how it's so much different now than it was 30 years ago. It really isn't. Just because technology changes, doesn't mean everything about it is different. Cars have changed dramatically over the years. However, they still have wheels, an engine, brakes, lights, etc.
Phone systems, just like TCP/IP packets are routed through a series of switches or switch boards, at each dumping some metadata.
Just like today, there were third parties all over the place for phone transmissions. Especially back 30-50 years ago when there were many phone companies across the USA. Your transmission from one state to another could be routing through several different phone companies.
If there is a difference, it's because we allow ISPs and those running web services to set up third party advertisements etc. to grab the information. This isn't because the Internet is more complex, it's because the endpoint sets this up.
What's next... you're going to outlaw the police from doing investigations... like following criminals to see where they hang out, what they drive, who they associate with, where they do business, their day to day procedures, etc? All because this is metadata?
Or... will we stop having people register homes they buy, cars they drive etc. with our local governments because we have to hand over metadata?
Finally, law enforcement pretty much has their hands full. They aren't wasting time grabbing your metadata if you're not suspected of being a criminal.
You're smarter than to let people tell you, "the sky is falling".