Wed, 28 Jul 2004
Forcing Telcos to Give Blood
Calls for regulations to force number portability on large telecommunication companies surprise Libertarianz spokesman
Andrew Bates, who asks why the enslavement should stop there.
"Number portability would require telcos to invest management time and money solving a complex engineering problem - and
add another permanent layer of technological complexity to their call routing management systems - all so the sacred
consumer could drop their service more readily," observes Bates.
"Well, why stop there?" he asks. "Forcing telco employees and shareholders to give blood would boost blood stocks and
benefit the public while only costing these people time and a little convenience! And community service could see a lot
of good work done for the community without killing telco shareholders or employees. Perhaps we could have telco
employees cleaning up roadside rubbish? Or removing graffiti?"
Taking a more serious tone, Mr Bates blamed an anti-business culture for allowing these calls, a culture he says which
should be challenged. "If New Zealanders want a free society where businesses flourish and individuals prosper, we must
reject the bludgers' short-sighted mentality and uphold property rights as sacred - including those of the telcos."
ENDS