Recent comments

Hi Jack, <blockquote>But we probably both agree that the state route is too cumbersome, and legislation should be at the federal level.</blockquote> I prefer legislation at the federal level, in part because there's some question as to whether states have the legal authority to regulate the Postal Service. However, to a lesser extent, I also support state initiatives because they generate press for the cause and may help pave the way for federal action. <blockquote>I am not sure you can correlate interrupted dinners and the general nusiance of unwanted telephone calls with unwanted mail that can just be thrown away.</blockquote> I don't know, Jack. In a 1999 Harris poll, junk mail topped the list of consumer annoyances ([http://www.nclnet.org/NCLSURV5.HTM 1]). That's right, junk mail was more despised than telemarketing. Bear in mind, this poll was taken prior to Do Not Call, at a time when people received significantly less junk mail than they do today. Also, fewer people were online, so snail mail's benefit-to-cost ratio was higher than it is now (i.e. the mail formerly provided more value for less hassle). In terms of which is more annoying, it's really a matter of opinion. After all, which is worse - interrupted dinner or planetary destruction? Not only does junk mail have serious environmental costs, but our tax dollars pay for its removal. Not so with telemarketing calls. Furthermore, junk mail is harder to avoid than a phone call. You can't unplug your mailbox, and there's no Caller ID for it either. Also, I would argue that junk mail can't "just be thrown away." You have to carry it from your mailbox, sift through it to make sure there's nothing important, shred anything that might put you at risk for identity theft, throw it out, lug it to the curb, then pay the government to take it away. While you can "just hang up" on telemarketers, you can't "just throw out" junk mail. Furthermore, those seconds "just throwing out" junk mail add up. The average American receives over 800 pieces of junk mail every year. Over the course of a lifetime, that amounts to months of stolen time. I don't know about you, but I'd rather use my precious time on this earth in other ways. Also, let's remember to multiply this theft over a couple hundred million people. <blockquote>I am anxious to hear more about the specifics of your campaign</blockquote> It's very simple. We're asking people to save their junk mail, then ship thousands of boxes of it to Congress in a synchronized fashion. We'll also be flooding D.C. with phone calls, emails, and faxes. It will all be highly choreographed to maximize impact. We'll rinse and repeat until Congress takes action. <blockquote>Pretty soon I was becoming an outcast, and eventually left the business.</blockquote> Well, your philosophy isn't exactly compatible with corporate greed. Enjoy the weekend, Rezzie Dannt [http://www.junkmailrevolt.org Junk Mail Revolt] (Launches May 12, 2008)