Posted on 05/01/2005 5:02:55 AM PDT by Dada Orwell
Concord, New Hampshire, April 30, 2005
Seacoast entrepreneur Mike Fisher doesn't look the part of a manicurist - or an outlaw. But he's about to become both.
Invoking the patron saint of civil disobedience, Fisher plans to violate New Hampshire's cosmetology laws - right in front of the officials who enforce them. And representatives of Attorney General Kelly Ayotte have already threatened him with arrest.
Fisher, 23, of Newmarket, is one of the 100+ "Free Staters" who have moved to New Hampshire since it was targetted for migration by a libertarian group, the Free State Project. In general, New Hampshire has fewer regulations and taxes than most states. But Fisher says there are still too many controls on small businesses, and the time has come to simply flout them.
His plan is to show up in front of the New Hampshire Board of Barbering, Cosmetology and Esthetics, a bureaucracy that regulates nail salons. There, he says, he will administer an unlicensed manicure - for profit - "regardless of what they threaten me with."
After deciding his course of action, Fisher sent the Board a note informing them he would be showing up at their office to break the law they enforce. That triggered a call from the Attorney General's office; one of their investigators informed Fisher police would be present and he would be arrested immediately if he attempted to perform an unlicensed manicure.
Fisher says he got the idea from watching the movie "Gandhi."
"The British government (In India) had salt licensing laws," he says. "You could not make salt without a license. Now we cannot cut nails without a license, and I really don't see the difference."
A computer repairman, Fisher admits that until April he didn't know first thing about manicuring but has now learned the basics. He points out that anyone who *does* want to work as a manicurist would not be able to stand up to the Board the way he is doing. "They could lose their ability to get a license." he says.
It's the principle of the thing that bothers Fisher and a desire to see a rollback of state restrictions on most industries. "In a free country," he growls "people do not need permission to start a business."
As in most states, it is a misdemeanor in New Hampshire to administer a manicure without a license. An increasing number of other small business activities also require licenses. Fisher believes these simply provide a barrier to entry for young entrepreneurs like himself without effectively protecting the consumer or the public. "Private institutions and competition are more effective protectors of the customer," he adds, "and these are both weakened when government tries to do the job."
Supporters are invited to attend, join the fun and witness Fisher's act of civil disobedience. But you do not have to disobey the law yourself unless you wish to man the tweezers! The event will be on Monday, May 9, at noon, at or near the NH Board of Cosmetology at 2 Industrial Park Drive, Concord, NH 03301.
Summary:
What: Civil disobedience against "manicure law" Why: To call attention to state govt. overregulation of small business How: By delivering a manicure without a license Where: At or near the enforcing bureacracy: NH Board of Barbering, 2 Industrial Park Drive, Concord, NH 03301 When: Monday, May 9, noon (in the event of extreme weather, call the numbers below for a status report) Who: Mike Fisher, supporters from NHfree.com, whoever wants to join us. Expected turnout: 10-20
Source: New Hampshire Underground http://www.soulawakenings.com/underground/tikiwiki/tiki-index.php?page=Activists+to+Defy+State+Licensing+Laws
I've often worried that some of these "Free Staters" were as soft as a grape.
Oh, right. That will get the Darwin award.
You're soaking in it!
They are going to wear out their welcome real quick, which is no surprise. They need to start in vacant territory rather than messing up an already functioning state.
Mr. Fisher doesnt understand its all about the money. The state doesnt care about perfection in the manicure , or if your cuticles are cut too short, They want their licensing fee.
New Hampshire has been trending to the 'rats and this will not help.
"...Mike Fisher doesn't look the part of a manicurist..."
Nor does any man, for that matter.
There's a non-functioning state just to the South, that is, at least intellectually, vacant. Mass. AG Tom Riley would do a Janet Reno on him.
A worthy effort, but I fear this will simply start to turn the general public against the Free State Project. These are the kind of idiotic regulations we need to fight against, but the whole point of the project was to do it through democracy and the legislative process.
Well, I certainly hope they are going to make this man register as an unlicensed manicurist. The public needs to be warned about these dangerous criminals! < /sarcasm >
There's a small Masshole invasion going on. The Masshole libs have destroyed MA. Now they're trying to escape their own liberalism and try to make a "kinder, gentler" New Hampshire. The border towns are full of Masshole transplants.
Bingo. That is the motivation behind the enforcement, or lack of it, of most of our laws. I mean, did you really think traffic cops were motivated by their concern for public safety...like they're supposed to be?
so , this is from my podiatrist ,...Mahatma Gandhi walked everywhere so his feet were tough,with sort of a poor diet,he was frail and had bad breath,that's why he was AKA ,...the Super Calloused,Fragile Mystic,Hexed With Halitosis
However - I agree with him in principal.
A license . . . to manicure someone's nails? Ridiculous!
Instead of the state (government) creating monopolies through regulations and restrictions, couldn't the state provide certification, but not require it? Then business could choose to certify or not. Buyers would have the option of shopping at a certified or uncertified business.
Let the market decide.
If he tried this in Massachutes or New York, he would get thrown in prison for longer then a child rapist.
Cutting someone's nails without buying a government liscence or paying a hefty fee to a big union boss?! -He is an enemy of the people!!!
"They need to start in vacant territory rather than messing up an already functioning state."
Yes, He should try this in New York.
There's a difference between starting a business and performing a manicure with unclean tools. Wait until he gets an infection and see how fast he changes his mind.
Not having a license makes the tool unclean? What kind of logic is that?
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