Posted on 09/27/2003 7:05:03 AM PDT by joesbucks
I've read over the course of the past few months the numerous threads regarding the use of telemarketing and the intrusion it has on our homes.
I had a long discussion with my wife who hates the intrusion. I ask her why did they call her? She had no idea. Well, despite the black eye telemarketers get, it's probably the most effective way to get business. Even Mrs. Me admitted that if they called about something that she had an interest in, she probably would buy. BINGO.
But let's look at if from another perspective. You will see numerous threads about how regulation is driving business from our shores to others. How we've taken manufacturing and moved it to low cost countries. Not because of productivity, but because of emission regulations or community groups that complain about the noise, smell or traffic caused by the facility. Even right to know and safety concerns. Changes necessary would be costly and not enforeced across the border or across the pond so companies locate there.
We seen threads about government regulation taking over our lives. Yet when it comes to a minor inconvience, we run to the government for help from the big bad telemarketers.
What's the difference between regulating out a obnoxiouis telephone call but not noxiouis fumes from the plant next door?
What happens when all the telemarketing jobs get exported to Ireland or India and our laws don't extend to them? And the calls continue cause we can't stop them.
What are we to do with all the folks who try to eek out a living working in a humid cramped call center. Many are the folks we drove from the welfare rolls with welfare reform (a good thing). Many are college students trying to earn their way through college. Others are seniors trying to supplement a fixed income. Or the physically disabled who find work in a sitting position reading a script, possibly from the company you work for or possibly even own. Some are just the slugs of life and a call center is the only way they've managed to find some sort of paycheck. What do you suggest they do for a living that's not immoral, illegal or indecent?
I find it amazing that we would rally all day about government intrusion and regulation on companies, yet we have rallied to stop a few phone calls a week or day.
The other thing to remember is that there are several ways that you will still get calls. They WILL NOT GO AWAY. Doing business with a company? They can call. Done business with them in the past 18 months? They can call. Signed up for one of those free give aways recently? You can now legitimately get a call. Charities. Exempt. Local lib dem candidate? Exempt. Pollsters. Exempt. Probably a thousand other loop holes? Exempt too!
That's a great metaphor! That's exactly what those telemarketing calls are like - noxious fumes!
I expect then, we consumers will demand that our local phone service put us on a do-no-connect international calls list. How many of us typically get international calls. Ive maybe had five in the past ten years. If most people put their households on a do not accept international calls list, then internationally based call centers wont be economically viable either.
Because I do not own the air, nor the plant next door, but I DO own my phone and the privacy of my home. I am the final authority on what come into my home. Were the plant next door to place a hose in my mailslot and pump the stuff into my home, it would be readily resolved.
It's not a very good analogy, because there are serious enough fines and cumbersome regulations that many of these polluting companies have been shut down, and the survivors face such onerous regulations now that they can barely do business. In my state, for example, almost all foundries have been shut down because they were bad neighbors.
Good neighbors do not harass me at suppertime with offers of time shares, and other products that nobody would buy if marketed any other way then by hoping to catch someone drunk or in a weak moment.
What **really** makes my blood boil is telemarketer calls on my CELL PHONE!!! I've rec'd 4 in a month. Grrrr.
The question is whether or not the intrusion is legitimate. No one says companies should be completely free from regulation or public oversight. For example, companies can't send you goods or perform services without your consent and then bill you for them. It's perfectly okay for government to forbid companies from contacting people who have declared their desire to not be contacted.
This is NOT government intrusion. It is individuals deciding what is right for their household. It would be government intrusion if the government was to decide that we shouldnt be forced to endure the endless calls and put everyone on such a list or banned telemarketing altogether. The government was forced to make the list available because of the DEMAND of the people for relief.
They can come over and mow my lawn, wash my truck and my dog, paint the house, ........ oh...wait, those jobs involve a level of intelligence.... never mind.
Roundup.
"You fargin' icehole, you have violated my fargin' rights. Dis somanumbatching country was founded so the liberties of common patriotic citizens, like me, could not be taken away by a bunch of fargin iceholes like yourselves"
They rarely stay for the second act.....wait, there's more.....
Tell me again how nice telemarketers are again.
Are you telling me that there is no switch at our shores? Satellite based systems have to have a downlink station. Undersea cable has to come ashore somewhere. Even the old HF links have to have a communications center.
You mention 800 capability. What is to stop the local phone service from blocking all 800 numbers if that is the choice of the customer? If there are a 800 numbers that you do receive calls from, you can put them in as exceptions.
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