Appeals court lets 'do not call' list go forward - Oct. 7, 2003

Appeals court lets 'do not call' list go forward - Oct. 7, 2003
And here I thought it couldn't get more confusing. Telemarketers, just close now and save us a lot of trouble.

The Do Not Call Squall - The constitutional smack-down at the heart of Do Not Call. By Dahlia�Lithwick

From Slate:The Do Not Call Squall - The constitutional smack-down at the heart of Do Not Call. By Dahlia�Lithwick:

"Well, here is one way not to think about it: The fact that 50 million Americans signed up for the list is not constitutionally compelling. Nor are the tens of irate letters-to-the-editor complaining about how annoying telemarketers are. It might seem intuitively obvious to you that the right to be left alone is more constitutionally urgent than the right to hear crap in which you have no interest. But the First Amendment exists to protect unpopular speech. Fifty million Americans probably would sign up to ban speeches against the war in Iraq or to bar Carrot Top from ever performing again. And that's why the First Amendment is not about the popularity of the speech in question."

While I made this very point recently, the Carrot Top issue could make me change my mind.