Help this blog go viral and create a movement – Shut down all Robocalls!

NOTE: I drafted this blog in the middle of November with plans to publish after the new year. But then a friend published this link on her Facebook page that the US House has now passed legislation to deal with this issue. I sure hope it has some teeth and calls for quick action. And I hope the Senate passes it and President Trump signs it.

Spread this around – help this blog go viral – maybe someone will do something. Share it with your Congressional Representative, State Senators and your phone carrier.

OK – I am going to be bipartisan here and blame all Republicans and all Democrats in our do-nothing Congress that cannot seem to do anything that will benefit every single American. Democrats blame Republicans, Republican blame Democrats, but I will blame everyone.

Congress! Want to do something bipartisan that will make 99% of Americans happy? Make all telemarketing robocalls illegal! They are one of the most disruptive and disrespectful aspects of our modern society. They impact our productivity: try working from home, playing with your children, taking a nap or cooking dinner when the phone rings every 10 minutes. You pick it up, say Hello and after 2 seconds of silence some person who barely speaks English mispronounces your name. Or a recording comes on “Hello Senior, Do you need a walker to get around,” or “Attention, this call is about your credit card account.”

Now that I am approaching 65, I get at least 10 calls a day from agencies trying to set me up with Medicare supplement insurance. Where did they get the info that I am close to 65? From our US Government Social Security administration? One of my friends around the same age told me she now gets 100 calls per day! This is destroying our lives!

I bet most of us want to do this in response to all these annoying robocalls.

I would say that 50% of my robocalls come when I am trying to take a 45 minute mid-afternoon nap, when I am about to walk out of the house already late for an appointment, or trying to cook or eat dinner.

I contacted my land-line provider AT&T to ask them to block all robo-generated calls. With all their advanced technology, they have nothing to do this! I guess they are happy that 90% of the calls going over their lines are telemarketing and they don’t give a damn about what their customers want. Their customer service levels are on par with Time Warner Cable and most states’ departments of motor vehicles.

So another thing our government can do is make it mandatory for all phone service providers to provide robocall blocking capabilities at no charge.

And the US Government’s “Do Not Call” list is a complete joke! My home, business and cell lines are all registered and I still get over 50 telemarketing calls per day.

My suggestions to Congress … put some real teeth into new legislation!

1) Outlaw all robocalls. Pass a law that all phone calls must be dialed by humans. Violators of this law and of calling people on the “do not call” list will have a mandatory 10 year prison sentence without parole for all company managers and owners. Maybe after publicizing the first several prison sentences, violators will be deterred.

2) For all robocalls coming from outside the US; withdraw all US foreign aid to those countries until they put technology in place to stop telemarketing calls to the US.

3) Require all telephone carriers to provide robocall blocking technology free of charge.

Bottom line – this explosion of robocalls and telemarketing calls is destroying our way of life and well as becoming a huge productivity drain. It has to stop!

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When not writing caustic blogs … Stan Kimer is a nationally recognized diversity and career development consultant. Plus I love to speak and lead workshops.  Please explore the rest of my website and get in touch.

Five Examples of LGBTQ Equality – It’s equal rights, not special rights!

Allowing same gender couples to marry does not infringe in any way on heterosexual marriage.

In my last blog, “Why So Much Hate,” I wrote about the hateful comments I receive on social media after blogging about topics such as Islamophobia, LGBTQ equality and Racism. In the LGBT area, I am shocked about some of the people commenting about LGBTQ (Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, Queer) people clamoring for “special rights.”

Last month when I published a blog about an LGBTQ+ Workplace Equity Training toolkit that will be launching in North Carolina in February, one woman commented that “this crap should not be allowed in our schools or at work” and that she is fed up with “gays wanting special rights.” When I tried to engage her in a conversation about areas where LGBT people are not treated equally, he accused me of harassing her and reported me to Facebook!

I am hoping that those who continue to shout “special rights” read this with an open mind to sincerely understand the difference between equal rights and special rights.

Marriage: Equal Rights – people can marry the person they love, whether they are same gender, opposite gender or gender fluid. Special Rights – if we made marriage only available to same gender couples and no longer allowed heterosexuals to get married. I would love to have someone explain to me why allowing a same-gender couple to get married infringes on their rights.

Workplace Protections: Equal Rights – all people should be able to work if they are qualified and capable of doing their job, and not get fired simply because they are gay. Special Rights – if we passed a law that stated if a gay person and a straight person applied for a job, preference must be given to the gay person. If you are so afraid that a gay person is going to steal your job, work harder and update your skills.

Shouldn’t all kids … straight, gay and trans …. be able to get a quality education without being bullied?

Safety in our Schools: Equal Rights – All children, including those who are lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender or gender fluid should be allowed to get a quality education without being bullied or having their issues not addressed by school administration. Special Rights – Establishing top-notch special schools exclusively for LGBTQ children only with the best teachers, facilities and equipment, and providing scholarships to top colleges only for LGBTQ students.

Safety on the Streets: Equal Rights – A gay couple should be able to walk down the street holding hands without being heckled or physically accosted. Special Rights – Passing a law that only same gender displays of public affection (PDA) are allowed and that heterosexuals are forbidden to hold hands or kiss in public.

Transgender people should have the right to use the restroom of their gender identity in peace.

Bathroom accessibility for transgender people. Equal Rights – all people should be permitted to use a public restroom that matches their gender identity and presentation. Special Rights – when a transgender person wants to use a restroom, everyone must immediately leave and wait until the trans person is finished.

I hope my readers get the drift here. LGBTQ people pay their taxes just like everyone else, and deserve equal treatment and respect under the law. We are just asking for equality without taking anything away from anybody else.

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Blog author Stan Kimer is a diversity consultant and trainer who handles all areas of workplace diversity and with a deep expertise in LGBT diversity strategy and training. Please explore the rest of my website and never hesitate to contact me to discuss diversity training for your organization, or pass my name onto your HR department.  [email protected]