Do-not-call, maybe

It’s worth celebrating a federal appeals court’s ruling Tuesday to revive the telemarketing do-not-call registry. But even if it passes further appeals, this won’t be the end of the issue.

A do-not-call list should start with no exceptions. People should then be free to add “it’s-OK-to-call” categories for themselves. The list shouldn’t exempt charities, political parties and survey researchers. They intrude on my privacy as much as any other solicitor.

People used to put signs on their front doors that said “No solicitors.” The sign didn’t differentiate among door-to-door salesmen, witnesses for Christ and candidates for dogcatcher. “No solicitors” meant “no solicitors.” The “do-not-call” list should be handled the same way.

Still, the telemarketers who are fighting the list are, as usual, missing the point. We want them to leave us alone. Why won’t they take “No!” for an answer?