""For many people spam is ruining their online experience and their ability to use e-mail," Sen. Conrad Burns, R-Mont., said. "It's high time Congress act to protect consumers from overzealous marketers."
Just when you thought that last year's GOP bold 100% endorsement of the Direct Markereter's Association (DMA) was the truth! (just after killing a bill that would have extended to spammers the felony provision that governs junk mailers who say one thing on the outside of the envelope and have somethign entirely different on the inside)
This smells extra-fishy. You know, what the DMA has been pushing for is the right to be charges a per-piece fee on every spam that they send out. You read that right. The reason is this: the legal right of junk mailers to send unsoicited advertising over the US Postal Service to your home and business is because they must pay a fee (postage) to do so. The arguement so far is that spammers do not pay a fee, therefore they have no right to spam you. That is why the DMA wants to make the change.
Unfortunately, the details of this legislation is not being discussed.
posted on March 28, 2001 09:13:52 PM new
From your article linked there seems to be Democrats sponsoring an anti-spam bill also.
A Senate version of the bill was reintroduced on Tuesday by three lawmakers. "For many people spam is ruining their online experience and their ability to use e-mail," Sen. Conrad Burns, R-Mont., said. "It's high time Congress act to protect consumers from overzealous marketers." The Senate bill is co-sponsored by Democratic Sens. Ron Wyden and Joseph Lieberman, and has the support of four other senators.
Frankly I don't care if Genghis Khan sponsors the bill, I just want the spammers dealt with.
posted on March 29, 2001 01:07:17 AM newuaru: quite frankly, I couldn't give two hoots for any Democrats, except for Ron Wyden. The democrats lost their way a long while back, afraid to adhere to the principles of higher ideals that fashioned this party and made world history that has been the guiding light of western civilization for nearly a century and have since sold out to corporations long before it was fashionable for Republican politicians to do so. Certainly, Joe Liberman is no exception. If nothing else was right about what Ralph Nader said in his last presidential campaign, he did point out that the corporations had hedged their bet and had completely bought out each political party and their candidates. No, uaru, my mind is not eased in the least because some democrats are helping to sponsor this bill.
I tell you, the "trick" has to be in there somewhere. I just don't trust a pro-consumer bill zipping through the congress so quickly! Aren't any alarm bells ringing for you too? Somehow, this is going to lead into PROTECTION for spammers down the road -- wait and see!
