Comment Re:I can't fix most TVs (Score 1) 408
TV repairmen were originally regulated (just like most other occupations) for two main reasons:
1. Existing repairmen wanted to make it harder for newcomers to compete with them. That's the primary reason for occupational licensing.
2. The State wanted some extra cash. That's usually a secondary reason to get them to go along with #1 above. May be the main reason for this expansion.
"Safety" is usually the excuse given to the public when they ask why they can't just arrange for anyone otherwise qualified to fix their stuff. If you stop and consider that the "license" (like most occupational licensing, although you will find some exceptions where they make a really hard and arbitrary test to be judged by those already in the business in order to better limit competition) doesn't actually require any firm proof of safety or skill, it becomes clear that "safety" can't possibly be the primary objective of the license.
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General Houseware
1. Existing repairmen wanted to make it harder for newcomers to compete with them. That's the primary reason for occupational licensing.
2. The State wanted some extra cash. That's usually a secondary reason to get them to go along with #1 above. May be the main reason for this expansion.
"Safety" is usually the excuse given to the public when they ask why they can't just arrange for anyone otherwise qualified to fix their stuff. If you stop and consider that the "license" (like most occupational licensing, although you will find some exceptions where they make a really hard and arbitrary test to be judged by those already in the business in order to better limit competition) doesn't actually require any firm proof of safety or skill, it becomes clear that "safety" can't possibly be the primary objective of the license.
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General Houseware
