WARNING: LOTS AND LOTS OF PROFANITIES AHEAD
Okay, if you're not outraged about the recent revelation that Verizon, AT&T, BellSouth and other corpses have been helping the Bushco Criminal family eavesdrop on yours and my phone conversations, you should really go fuck yourself. Better yet, if you're a customer of one of those corpses and you're still not going to do anything about it - whether it's because you think others will do the work for you or you just don't care - you really should go fuck yourself because you're as bad as an enabler of these assholes.
So to those complacent and/or apathetic people, and to those who have no objections about this, fuck off, fuck OFF, FUCK OFF!!!
I have two cell phones; one for business and one personal. I've been a subscriber to Verizon Wireless for over six years now. A couple of years ago, when it was first revealed that Verizon's been turning our phone records to the Bushco, I seriously thought about terminating my accounts with Verizon. But Verizon threatened - yes, THREATENED - to penalize me for terminating my contract early, so I reluctantly stayed. Then, things calmed down a bit and I sort of let go.
Not anymore. And this time, I'm walking away from Verizon whether they penalize me or not. Fuck them. I've had it. And this morning, when I called to complain about their complicity to the Bush administration, it really sealed the deal for me. Here are some highlights and lowlights from my conversation with Verizon's Customer Relations Supervisor named Clint (Employer ID xx722).
Me: I'd like to know why your company's helping the government eavesdrop on our phone conversation?
Clint: Sir, you have no right to make unsubstantiated claims that we're helping the government eavesdrop on your phone conversation.
Me: Unsubstantiated? It's in the news!
Clint: There's a lot of propaganda in the media.
Me: I'm not talking about Fox News! I'm talking about the New York Times!
Clint: New York Times, too. They had to fire their reporters for false reporting in the past...
Me: So, you're saying it's all a big lie. You've never turned over any phone records or helped them eavesdrop on our conversation?
Clint: Sir, I can't tell you that.
Me: Why not?
At this point, he went on a long rant about how I shouldn't be so paranoid as long as I'm not doing anything and kept telling me not to make unsubstantiated claims. He also went on about how we should appreciate the freedom we have in this country as opposed to North Korea (this came out of the left field, but it gets better). Fed up, I said...
Me: Okay, fine, then. Can you prove to me then, that my personal records were never turned over to the government?
DEAD SILENCE. Then,
Clint: Sir, if the federal government asked you to turn over your records, what would you do?
Me: I'd stand by the Constitution and go through the whole due process.
Clint: I understand that, sir, but what would you do if the federal government asked you to turn over your documents?
Me: I'd stand by the Constitution and go through the whole due process, you know, like, hiring a lawyer? And if I were a publicly traded company like Verizon, I'd wait for a subpoena and take the case to the court of public opinions instead of stabbing my loyal customers in the back.
Clint: Sir, why are you so afraid? What do you have to be so afraid of?
Me: Afraid? Afraid??? I'm standing up for the principles I believe in! And it's not just me! It affects all of your customers who were duped!
Clint: We're not duping anyone, sir. And I really don't understand why you're so angry...
Me: Angry? What would you do if you felt the government was listening in on your phone conversation?
Clint: I would go see a psychologist.
Yup. He said it. He would go see a psychologist.
Me: So are you saying I should go see a shrink?
Clint: No, that's just what I would do.
At this point, I saw no reason to continue this bullshit exchange, so I thanked him for his time and asked him to terminate both of my contracts. He gladly explained the penalty I would have to pay. I guess that's a few less hours of counseling I'm gonna be seeking at his recommendation.
P.S. So, why the GBCW in the title of this diary? Because I belong in an institution. That's what they said.
UPDATE: Please call Verizon, AT&T and BellSouth's Customer Service (the toll free line) and complain for as long as possible if you can. Because every time you call their toll free number, it costs them money and they hate it.