Mr. Dunning,
Welcome to the discussion. I discovered your blog some time ago, bookmarked it for reference, and even read quite a few of your earlier posts. You have some unique and fresh perspectives that I'd like to explore more thoroughly when I have a chance. Because you present a lot of information that requires digestion, it's difficult to give much feedack other than to say congratulations on leaving the dark side. It's good to have you on the team.
Rezzie Dannt
[http://www.junkmailrevolt.org Junk Mail Revolt] (Launches May 12, 2008)
Anne Landman's analysis of the junk mail problem is the best I have heard for some time, and I speak as a former junk mail data broker turned privacy activist. Her insight into two of the most significant problems of unwanted mail, the U.S. Postal Service's supposed dependency on it for survival, and the Direct Marketing Assn.'s Mail Preference Service, which is supposed to stop mail, is priceless. I must add, the biggest problem with junk mail, however, is junk mailers who think they own our names and personal data, and can do with them as they see fit.
There is a way to stop all this, and that is to give consumers control over their names and private information, and compensate them when it is sold as incentive to accept this responsibility. I have been blogging on this for over three years in <em>The Dunning Letter</em>, attempting to start a grass-roots movement for federal legislation. You can see my rantings and ravings here: <a href="http://">http://www.thedunningletter.blogspot.com</a>
Very anxious to know what Ms. Landman and readers think of this?
Jack E. Dunning
The Dunning Letter
Cave Creek, AZ
Rezzie --
My reference to a "pointless debate" was specific to Ms. Landman's comments about the US Postal Service, and it is pointless. People can criticize the USPS all they want -- it's a free country. But it's an organization that gets a heck of a lot done under some pretty significant operating constraints (highly unionized, highly subject to Congressional scrutiny), and has achieved impressive productivity growth in the past several years. It is financially challenged like many large organizations, but it is addressing those challenges in a thoughtful and long-term way.
It's clear that you and I are not going to be able to persuade each other of the correctness of our respective positions, and I won't bore PR Watch readers by trying to argue with you until we are both out of breath. You have your facts, I have mine, and in the great US democratic tradition, we will compete in the marketplace of ideas for some time to come.
Matt
Matt Broder
Vice President, External Communications
Pitney Bowes Inc.
I'd like to see if I've missed any. Perhaps you could create a separate Topic for them?
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