[steve-b]

Maybe the reason that I never had a problem with them is that I treat them as human beings who are trying to earn a living.

There's your mistake. It simply would never occur to me to do that, any more than it would occur to me to treat al-Qaeda as human beings who are trying to express a political grievance.

[Badray]

Good God!

Now we are comparing telemarketers to al-Queda.

Puh-leeze.

Just say "No thank you." when telemarketers call. Don't run to the freaking federal government.