For almost 20 years, my wife and I have both been employed in professions that require state sanctioned professional licensing. Are we doctors? No. Airline pilots? No. Builders of nuclear power plants? No. Nothing so exotic or, presumably, “dangerous”. But, as it happens, that hardly matters. Here in Washington, and probably in your state as well, the government exerts an unbelievable range of control over our working lives. This is clearly evident in the list of state licences required here in Washington (included at the end of this post).
Being a “reasonable” person, I’m sure that you’ll find some that you believe “should” be regulated by the state. Some, frankly, I’ve never even heard of, let alone had reason to wake from a nightmare with the thought: “thank God The State is watching those jokers”. In 1992, despite the fact that there were already credible and appropriate private sector certifications in widespread use, the state came after my profession. Apparently, I too was one of “those jokers”. Continue reading
A Reasonable Life 