Should the government tap every phone for public safety?

Fear of unknown terrorists attacks have caused some to agree with the idea that the government should tap all phones and electronic communications devices so that every person is constantly monitored and plans for violent attacks can be prevented. Is this really the way to stop criminal activity? Is there a better way to insure public safety rather than violating everyone's privacy? Or are we being naive to think we ever really had privacy in the first place? Perhaps everyone is already under government surveillance! If so, why aren't crime prevention efforts more successful? Who is really the hidden hand behind all this terrorism anyway? What about if we all just talked about what everyone's needs are and gave people what they need to live comfortably? Are there really groups of people that are just insanely wanting to hurt someone, or are we all being duped into an unending cycle of fear?