"I am a Theodore Roosevelt republican. "
Your statement sounded more like a FDR type.
If you don't want to use the services of a RE agent, then it's your choice not to. But having the gov't decide what they can charge is absurd and is not a conservative thought process, as there's nothing illegal going on in the pricing. If the prices are that ridiculous then they will be adjusted downward as time goes on. Ever heard of Adam Smith?
There are lots of brokers who will negotiate their commission, BTW.
The government directly or indirectly has controls on many markets. We both know this.