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I can understand the need to license certain professions to maintain a level of ethics and have a way to keep out (or kick out) unethical people...ie: attorneys, doctors, realtors & yes even insurance agents.

They all have an effect on the public's well-being and good....however, a 300% increase in one's fees???? How hard would the average tax payer be fighting if their personal income tax went up 300%????

Agreed on the increase.

As for licenses, I actually DON'T think they are necessary. Look at what requires a license these days, just about any profession that can be called a trade. Heck a food handler's permit in Washington? Come on.

The fact is, vast corruption and terrible ethics are a TRADEMARK of much of the licensed professions at this point. No, I don't hate all the lawyers, my mom is one(not practicing though) but the negatives have crept in anyway. That kind of eliminates the argument altogether.

I would have less problem with a free market alternative, where credibility was established by 1-3 licensing commissions, and they decided their own prices and standards. The consumer should make themselves knowledgeable, and if the guy is certified by X Commission then you know you can have a base level of trust.

The real problem with these licenses is there is no alternative. You can be ARRESTED or fined for NOT having them, as opposed to having them to establish greater market appeal and standards. That includes being a hairdresser in some places.

Another is that the bar and medical associations are merely cartels that artificially reduce the total entrants into their field and/or inflate the costs to do business in those sectors, even if its something a paralegal or nurse can handle. State-sponsored cartels ain't my bag, baby.

Laws against fraud, various violations of contract and criminal negligence would still apply, so it's not like we'd see all these people being fooled by fake Harvard diplomas and allowing someone to operate on their brain.