Yeah, always interpreted that to mean "Follow the rules of society and pay your taxes" too. There weren't any Christian churches back in his time, so it seemed strange we'd have to pay God through people in churches. I always wondered why God would need money anyway - thought he had a pretty good job.

I get nervous with churches getting into the charity business. Missionary types are just as irritating to me. The only difference is I have to get out of bed to answer the door - regardless of how I am dressed or how I look. I have to - in case it's an emergency with my neighbor next door.

They justify their intrusive behavior by saying they only want to introduce me to Jesus, especially when they see I'm in a pitiful state. Once again, unwilling to help myself. I can just imagine how intrusive they would be if they were also compelled to go door-to-door raising money for Jesus.

Personally, I find the No Call list a joke and worthless - I just recieved another solicitation call. They don't stop. I have had the same companies calling for years, long before there was a no call list.

The no call list does not stop them even though I report every single call, every single time. It has slowed them down - instead of a few times a week it's about once a month...woohoo

These calls have NOTHING to do with charity, politics nor have I done buisness with them and I never will. I have been nice, rude, sarcastic and just plain mean but the calls keep coming.

i haven't checkd into this, but we got a solicitation at our business from a telemarketing company not based in the usa. they were trying to get us to sign up for their service.

their brochure stated that they didn't have to follow the do not call guidlines, since they are not governed by the usa.

this could be why calls that are not a non profit are still getting through.

btw...we didn't sign up. we don't make cold calls or phone solicate.

we've had an unlisted number for years , so we don't get many of these calls at all.
but I did sign up on the "do not call list" as swell as signing up my parents - as they were getting many calls of all sorts.

They say it has slowed down a lot, so far.

How many of you give out your phone number to stores when they ask for it??
Don't do it!!
say it's unlisted or just say no thanks!

that is one way your number gets "out there"
I don't give my real zip code if they ask for that either
none of their business

Didn't AT&T or someone offer a deal where you pick a few numbers, say " 3 6 1" and anyone dialing in had to dial those 3 digits, or 5 digits or......you get the idea.......if the caller did not know those digits, the call would not go through.

Of course it cost another $$$ a month. The cheap way out is to let your answering machine take the call. PROBLEM IS, A LOT OF DOCTORS USE "Private Caller" and ...... I guess they get to leave a number or if you hear them, grab the phone.

I got a call recently from someone claiming to be with the Police Benevolent Society. The number he was calling from did not show up on my called ID. Just said "private number".

I grilled him with questions and he gave me some phony answers.

I finally got tired of abusing this poor man and told him that my son is a police officer with our county department and that his explanations just did not sound accurate.

Guess what - he hung up on me!!

The Do Not Call list quite effective. It has reduced our
nuisance calls about 90%.

And we have had some nasty police solicitations too..One, a woman, was the most aggressive thing I've ever encountered.
I hung up on HER!

We screen our calls now. Have caller ID and if we miss
getting to the phone before the recorder takes over, our friends know to leave a message.

Right now the worst offenders are the political parties. During the primaries it was pretty bad.

One thing I do sometimes if I am peeved enough is to
answer the phone, and when I see it is a solicitation, I
set the phone down on the counter and walk away. That way THEY end up paying more for the call, and it ties THEM up reduces their output.

But in general, the calls are much less. I will be glad when the election is over.