I am running this poll to encourage Kossacks, newbies and lurkers to dump the bad telecoms (they who have sold our customer data to the National Security Agency and facilitated NSA's illegal wiretapping). I am asking those who answer the "Have you dumped [insert bad telecom name here]?" as "Yes, I want to starve those bastards" to commit to never again signing up to those companies for telephone service.
More across the canyon...
I have personally dumped AT&T long distance for Qwest, and am looking for a replacement for my Verizon cell (sorry, Vonage VOIA won't work, since I can't get wireless Internet in the mountain canyon area where I live -- good for other folks, though. I will also check out the pre-paid cellular services.)
Since Kos user "forbodyandmind" estimated that a lifetime of telephone service costs on the order of $30,000 to $50,000,
each person or family who switches away from the bad guys takes away that amount in future business from that company.
"Forbodyandmind" (I hope I got that right) also pointed out that many individuals and families spend double that value, some may triple it.
As of midnight 6/24/06 Pacific time, 38 individuals stated they dumped AT&T and 5 flushed Verizon. That is
now a total of 43 x a minimum estimate of $30K each, so the $ that the bad boys won't get (if the poll responders keep their promises) is now 43 x $30,000 = $1,290,000.
That money will go to companies who made some effort to resist the illegal NSA demands, such as Qwest, and those who are trying to do the right thing in a difficult ethical climate, i.e. Working Assets.
If the bad boys repudiate their crimes and promise to never again violate the law and our trust, we might possibly consider returning to the fold. But they would have to jump through quite a few hoops before we'd consider such a course. We also might be very satisfied with Qwest, WA etc. and say that they deserve the support more than AT&T and its fellows in crime.
If we can't get justice through the government or the courts, at least we still have the power of the purse. If you are peeved, then poll.
I am modifying the poll slightly, but am keeping track of all the numbers from the versions so far.
If you like the poll, please recommend or rescue the diary.
If you don't like the new poll, I can reinstate the old one.
Din