[ibheath]

True, but responsible Co's should bother to check before soliciting or if in the case where they can't, they should use other means to market their service/product.

What a silly statement! How exactly do they solicit without contacting the prospect? Email, no.. that is spam... Hhhhmmmm, direct mail? lets see....17-30 cents... No, that would break the bank..... door to door...no, can't contact enough people fast enough....

The thing is, telephone solicitation works, otherwise it would not be profitable. If you are at dinner, do you want to be interupted? If the answer is no, then it does not matter who is calling. If it is an emergency, then you will be able to hear the messege on your machine and pick up the phone.

The whole point is WHY do you want the government to be able to interfere in your life this much? The federal govt has very specific duties outlined in the constitution. Anything that exceeds those limits should be fought vigorously.

[cookcounty]

"What a silly statement! How exactly do they solicit without contacting the prospect? "

They can stand on the corner and offer their services until their first amendment rights make them hoarse. Have you EVER gotten a call from anyone who was offering something worthwhile? These telemarketers are just trolling for mentally feeble people to take advantage of. I don't have an obligation to help lower their expenses. They should get into an honest business. All telemarketers are scam artists.

[azhenfud]

Silly?

Those responsible Co's can get updated electronic lists that work with their automatic dialers. I don't know for sure, but I think those lists are free. Those who don't bother with the updates volunteer to get prosecuted if they abuse their "right to call". Believe it or not, there are still those not yet signed up.

To date, absent their regulation, how many Co's do you think would voluntarily respect your "right not to be called"? Don't expect more than can be counted on one hand.

[Naspino]

The whole point is WHY do you want the government to be able to interfere in your life this much? The federal govt has very specific duties outlined in the constitution. Anything that exceeds those limits should be fought vigorously.

I'll set aside the constitution to see telemarketters jailed and executed. My hatred for them is limitless. :)

[steve-b]

What a silly statement! How exactly do they solicit without contacting the prospect? Email, no.. that is spam... Hhhhmmmm, direct mail? lets see....17-30 cents... No, that would break the bank..... door to door...no, can't contact enough people fast enough....

Tough. It would also be cheaper for them to hire gang-bangers to throw notes on bricks through people's windows in exchange for a few rocks of crack, but that doesn't mean they should be permitted to do so.