October 02, 2003

What goes around...

I am opposed to the National Do Not Call List. I don't like telemarketers any more than anyone else. I have my own way of dealing with them that has probably gotten me on a private list or two - all you telemarketers know what I'm talking about. (I apologize. Really. I do.)

I am opposed to the NDNCL because of what I heard on the radio the other day. Senator Something-or-Other says , "Over 50 million people have stated that they do not want these calls. Over 50 million people can't be wrong!" Sounds great. Crowd cheers. Then you realize that the legal issue is one of free speech. The Senator did not say, "Commercial speech is in another class from other types of private speech." He said, "50 Million People Can't Be Wrong." This sends chills through my bones.

I am sure there are many groups that can scare up 50 million signatures (many would just fake half of them) to say that they did not want me to preach in their country anymore. Maybe I don't even have to be the focus of such nationwide attention. If 1/3 of the people voting in my city voted to banish me and "my kind" would that be enough? How low is the threshold to decide that "people can't be wrong, let's run roughshod over their speech." The legislative challenge to recent court decisions is chilling and wrong-headed. It is a cheap power grab to place oneself and one's party as the populist "party of the people." They will not do it at the expense of my liberties. Christians are already facing a swelling tide of public opposition. Let's not make it easier by backing the wrong arguments. If the price of my preaching the gospel is constant interruption from unwanted callers, so be it. It is a small price to pay for the freedom to pursue the glory of God.

E-mail your Senator. Oppose dangerous arguments for the NDNCL.

Posted by Blandus at October 2, 2003 10:46 PM
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