MonkeeSage - 9:33 am on Sep 26, 2003 (gmt 0)

The two main arguments for making the list public are rather laughable...

1. It would violate the first amendment (freedom of speech) to withhold phone numbers / restrict calling to unwithheld numbers.

Rejoin: In the first place, this is a non-sequitor claim; it engages in a fallacy of equivocation; "freedom of speech" is not "disclosure of X resource." It would be the same thing as trying to argue that the government is violating our freedom of speech by withholding classified materials from the public. "Freedom of speech" simply doesn't guarentee any type of right to disclosure, it only guarentees the right to free speech.

Secondly, telephone service is a paid service, and a telephone number is part of this service; thus it should be subject to the same rules and regulations as any other article of commerce.

2. It would be very bad for telemarketing (and other) businesses if the list were withheld.

Rejoin: This claim, taken as fact, only goes to show that such businesses are not legitimate.

Further, the relative state of some business (or industry) does not negate legislation regarding private property or ownership. X car maker might do better if they knew the way Y car maker builds engines, but that would not justify stealing Y's engine specs, nor would it guarentee X any right to disclosure of the specs. Y must be the one to decide if they will disclose the information (and how it may be used if disclosed), irregardless of the state of affairs at X.

Jordan