Even if publishers who now require "double opt-in" subscriptions were to ask for and keep records of "quadruple opt-in" verifications from their subscribers, a lot of anti-spam zealots would still cry foul!

Why else would terms *s*u*b*s*c*r*i*b*e* and *u*n*s*u*b- *s*c*r*i*b*e* be included in many spam filters with implied suggestion that email that carries this terminology MUST be spam?

It does no good to be able to prove double opt-in to ISP's and anti-spam zealots. Most presuppose that any commercial email is likely to be spam.

The ISP's are honestly concerned with cost of bandwidth in association with email. Estimates have put monthly cost of spam to be $3 per month per email account. Thus, if ISP's can reduce or eliminate spam, they can reduce their costs and improve their profits.

ISP's who oppose all commercial email --- you know, kind who laugh at suggestion that spam filters hurt "legitimate email marketers" --- think one step further. They believe that if they can eliminate all commercial email, then they can significantly reduce their costs and significantly improve their profits!

At every level of Internet food-chain, people are concerned with their own profits. The anti-spam zealots, who had most pronounced representation at FTC spam forum, will profit handsomely from loss of commercial email... Or will they?

Without commercial enterprise on Internet, will people still be flocking to web in numbers they are today?

Recognizing fact that filtering industry is destroying email commerce, people like Anne P. Mitchell of Habeas, Inc. have come running to assistance of online commercial businesses. For a price, Habeas will "whitelist" your publication or email --- or should I say for a hefty price, Habeas will "whitelist" your email!

TERM: Whitelist - This is a kind of filter that suggests that any email that meets whitelist definitions will be pre-verified (under terms of whitelist company) as legitimate commercial email.

Habeas purports to offer a "value-added service" that will help your outgoing email reach its destination unobstructed. Habeas also purports its fees to be very reasonable --- up to $500 per mailing list per year. Is $500 really a "reasonable" price? I don't think so.

As consumers, we always think of "spam war" as something that addresses unsolicited email from p*o*r*n industry, nutritional products industry, and other fly-by-night scammers.

Yet, when people who are speaking on our behalf in halls of government think of "spam war", they are thinking of something else entirely. In fact, they are attempting to remove cash from pockets of not only spammers, but also small business people who employ legitimate email marketing techniques.

Why do so many anti-spam zealots target all commercial email? Simple, they want to put cash where THEY think it belongs --- into their own pockets!

John Calder is the owner/editor of The Ezine Dot Net. Subscribe Today and get real information YOU can use to help build your online business today! http://www.TheEzine.Net

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CD lists are one of worst sources. 90 million e-mail addresses available on a single CD for as little as $20. A lot of addresses on these CDs would be junk (many would no longer exist) but an equally large number of these addresses would be valid. A CD like this is a junk mailers dream.

Where they do it from Those involved in sending out bulk e-mail are “entrepreneurs” or at least they think so. The vast majority of those involved in spam business are self-employed and work from home. Sending spam is almost ideal home based business. You name your hours and business itself is almost automatic. Maximum gain from minimum effort.

Why they do it in first place Their motivation is money. Considerable amounts of cash actually. Each spammer who sends out 1,000,000 junk e-mails is certain of approximately 100 sales. Many of products they sell are worth $50 - $100 dollars to them in commission. Yes. Shocking isn’t it? The average bulk mailer earns in excess of $100,000 per year! Maximum return for minimum effort. Unless of course you get caught and get jail time.