Actually, friends wasn't in my argument. My mother had a reputation as someone who could give decent haircuts to longhaired hippies who wanted to be more presentable when they went home to visit their parents. Maybe you should read my posts. I've been saying "mine the border". Licensing barbers and beauticians is stupid. You can walk into their establishment and look around. If they are using proper sterilization equipment, you can observe that. If not, you can walk out. Would you also like the government to license software writers? Bad software can kill people and waste $billions.
I'll concede that point that I misread "friends" in your argument, and I like the "mine the borders" thing. Reminds me of Korea.
But, I will never agree with the Libertarian notion that every individual is fully capable of governing themselves. For the general public to be fully protected (including those who aren't capable of making those decisions, such as kids and disabled adults) the law needs to step in somewhere. Licensing for anything effectively says to the public that the person providing the service or committing the act that requires that license has gone through the proper guidelines and, according to the state, is capable. I can agree that it's a good way for the state to make money and I'm not really cool with that, but that's the compromise I guess.
Also, it saves the municipality from liability because according to the community at large they met the standards, the customer saw it posted and proceeded to use the services anyway.
I don't want to eat at a restaurant without the proper licensing requirements. I don't want people who don't have the proper licensing requirements to drive 18 wheelers on the highways. I don't want people to fly planes who haven't gotten aviation licenses. I don't think I'm crazy for wanting that. True, just because somebody has a license doesn't mean their free and clear (see Mohammed Atta). But I won't take their word for it either.
Guess I really jammed my hand up the wildcat's ass on this one. WHOOO!