Posted on 12/05/2004 10:30:28 AM PST by SmithL
About 66 million Americans have signed up for the national Do Not Call Registry, resoundingly declaring their desire not to be bothered by telemarketers.
"It's been a wild success," acknowledged Allen Hile, a spokesman for the Federal Trade Commission in Washington.
So why mess with it?
That's what the FTC says it may do in response to a petition from Voice Mail Broadcasting Corp., a Southern California direct-marketing firm that specializes in blitzing consumers with prerecorded phone messages.
The company argues that the Federal Communications Commission allows such calls under certain circumstances, which is true, and that all it wants is for the two agencies overseeing the Do Not Call list to be in harmony -- and, not coincidentally, to unite in authorizing prerecorded calls.
Not so fast, say consumer advocates. If the FTC changes its guidelines, people could be deluged with the phone equivalent of spam.
"It literally could open the floodgates to unwanted telemarketing," said Chris Hoofnagle, associate director of the Electronic Privacy Information Center, a Washington advocacy group.
(Excerpt) Read more at sfgate.com ...
Preach it, bro!
I wonder what it would take to set up a 900 number? That way, irritating callers would be billed automatically.
Go cry a river because your phone rings and all you can do is throw insults.
Really, you must be a liberal, for when logic fails them they also resort to insults.
I suppose it also costs you time and money to take a dump better figure out a way to get the taxpayers to refund you that cost also.
If someone is physically trespassing on your property go ahead and shoot him, if you believe a trespasser to be in your phone, feel free to shoot your phone.
Amazing how riled up people get when their pork is questioned, according to these folks the government can not waste a cent.
BUMP
No, I resort to insults when people say fantastically silly things. :P
If you like being solicited, just post your email addy and you'll get your wish. But leave me out of it!
The Federal budget is out of control, is that silly?
The cutting has to start somewhere. Is that silly?
I have said many times that the Telemarketers are a pain. For the life of me I can not comprehend why you would even ask If you like being solicited, just post your email addy and you'll get your wish. But leave me out of it! unless you are purposefully not reading what I have said. My argument against the "Do Not Call" law has nothing to do with likeing telemarketers, and everything to do with starting somewhere in taming the government.
I suppose to some people cutting the government is "fantastically silly". Maybe they do no pay enough in taxes... beats me.
Tell me, then, what is the purpose of government?
What's legit?
Rather than registering for a "Do Not Call List" for telephone customers, that should have been the DEFAULT setting. If people wished to receive calls from telemarketers, they could have been required to sign-up for that option.
That method would have led to maintenance of a much smaller list, as people who enjoy speaking with telephone solicitors are in the extreme minority.
~ Blue Jays ~
LOL!!!! I don't have to say any more!!! You just did a fantastic job of making yourself out to be a complete moron!!! Here, let me be sure that your point is well seen! LOL!!!
I suppose it also costs you time and money to take a dump better figure out a way to get the taxpayers to refund you that cost also.
I suppose it also costs you time and money to take a dump better figure out a way to get the taxpayers to refund you that cost also.
I suppose it also costs you time and money to take a dump better figure out a way to get the taxpayers to refund you that cost also.
Any more **brilliant** statements that you'd like to make? LOL!!!
If we repealed trespassing laws we would save a LOT of govt. money trying to enforce them.
If you had a lick of sense you would realize the issue I am talking about an issue that is bigger than telemarketing, and weather you are going to have another mental break down if the phone rings.
It is obvious that you are not willing to compromise and have the government do less for you. Exactly where can the government be cut with out impacting someone's pet project?
If being serious about cutting the scope of the government makes me a complete moron, so be it.
The list is paid for by the fees charged to telemarketers. How would getting rid of it cut the federal budget?
Health care, and pensions for all the bureaucrats involved? I don't think so. The fees were basically for some of the media costs I believe. This bureaucracy will grow far faster than any fees, just as most everything the government gets involved in.
Hell no. Since I placed my phones on the Do Not Call list the number of junk calls has almost dropped to zero. It would be a damn shame if the greedy politicians changed the rules now.
Then they would have to call everyone on the "Do Not Call" list for permission. But they can't call those listed on the "Do Not Call" list, because they are on the "Do Not Call" list!
What's a slimeball telemarketer to do?
The dirty secret of telemarketing is that it depends on using sleazy pressure tactics on vulnerable targets (e.g. elderly folks in the early stages of senility).
Someone with a legitimate product or service that has an actual target audience can sell it using normal advertising channels. Only crap and scams depend on telemarketing for viability.
The government should do its job. Protecting my private property (e.g. my phone) from crooks (e.g. telemarketers) is part of the government's job. QED.
Your "argument" is a piece of something, and it ain't straw.
pro-jec-tion (pr&-JEK-sh&n): The attribution of one's own attitudes, feelings, or desires to someone or something as a naive or unconscious defense against anxiety or guilt.
Well, then, withdraw all police protection from telemarketers. That will save money, and the problem will soon be solved permanently by private action on the part of citizens.
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