Re: LOCKSMITH'S GUILD WANTS L
-----BEGIN PGP SIGNED MESSAGE----- tcmay@netcom.com (Timothy C. May) wrote:
Again, I'm not claiming anything about PGP making conventional doctors obsolete. Just the increased freedom of a wide range of services to be negotiated electronically, without benefit of official guild approvals.
(This is an actual concern the professional organizations have. They worry about online medical diagnoses, about "unlicensed" consultants, and about data bases over which they have no jurisdiction.)
I certainly agree with your implication, that professional groups can and sometimes do use licensing to restrain trade, with an eye toward feathering their own nests. But I don't buy your other implication, that it is a Good Thing to unleash the unlicensed. Licensing serves, or should serve, a public good under the following conditions: (a) consumers don't have the information necessary to make an informed choice between professionals, and (b) it is pretty fucking important that the job be done right. Doesn't make any sense to license those who program video games. DOES make sense to license those who design skyscrapers. Now, there are ways to alleviate the consumer's lack of knowledge. In my former racket (professional nursing), there is a lot of talk about benchmarking: comparing patient outcomes at different hospitals and publicizing the results. Market forces could then react to a nice, measurable reputation. But what about new, untested, solo practitioners? What about the architect whose buildings are all going to fall down, ten years from now? Even with well-publicized reputations, the consumer doesn't have the necessary information to keep from getting hurt. In those circumstances, it's useful to have standards, and a trusted public agency that certifies a person meets the standards. - -- ______________________________________________________________________ Don Doumakes Finger doumakes@netcom.com for PGP public key Foxpro databases built to your specifications. Email me for details. -----BEGIN PGP SIGNATURE----- Version: 2.6.2 iQCVAwUBLyWC1xtumcu2AjihAQGnRAP/UYqpg7gUpAyt7CMHgAUSApGHi9AFOJON UPns4os25F2B7op0uCdOQibbTJTUO5cjcDnpZ1VoYD00dFVN64IhoL/vYasoI1LV xm/grDW2bd4NKfOIYvbdYYwp8/BxtvCp9p8fGNksmHyWBPV017qieEo2rTHxuOWM lLwwSQYPp4o= =TW+P -----END PGP SIGNATURE-----
On Tue, 24 Jan 1995, Don Doumakes wrote:
But I don't buy your other implication, that it is a Good Thing to unleash the unlicensed. Licensing serves, or should serve, a public good under the following conditions: (a) consumers don't have the information necessary to make an informed choice between professionals, and ....
This assumes that governments have the necessary wisdom to tell a bad architect from a good architect. This does not seem very plausible. What most people would do is look at the certificate issued by various certifying organizations -- for example the doctores university. While universities often issue or refrain from issuing certificates for corrupt and improper reasons, government supervision on this matter is unlikely to keep them honest --- indeed it is more likely to force them to be dishonest, or to force them to deny their own sound judgment in favor of arbitrary and foolish criteria imposed by some ignorant and arrogant bureaucrat. --------------------------------------------------------------------- | We have the right to defend ourselves | http://www.catalog.com/jamesd/ and our property, because of the kind | of animals that we are. True law | James A. Donald derives from this right, not from the | arbitrary power of the omnipotent state. | jamesd@netcom.com
On Wed, 25 Jan 1995, James A. Donald wrote:
On Tue, 24 Jan 1995, Don Doumakes wrote:
But I don't buy your other implication, that it is a Good Thing to unleash the unlicensed. Licensing serves, or should serve, a public good under the following conditions: (a) consumers don't have the information necessary to make an informed choice between professionals, and ....
This assumes that governments have the necessary wisdom to tell a bad architect from a good architect. This does not seem very plausible.
What most people would do is look at the certificate issued by various certifying organizations -- for example the doctores university.
While universities often issue or refrain from issuing certificates for corrupt and improper reasons, government supervision on this matter is unlikely to keep them honest --- indeed it is more likely to force them to be dishonest, or to force them to deny their own sound judgment in favor of arbitrary and foolish criteria imposed by some ignorant and arrogant bureaucrat.
So....once we get past what seems to be your utter refusal to consider the possibility that government could ever do anything right ....how do we ensure that those skyscrapers don't fall down on us? That the surgeon who is going to open me up knows something about surgery? That my money is at least somewhat safe in the bank? If you are willing to trust your life to Adam Smith's 'invisible hand', then good luck to you. I prefer to see the hand out on the table. Charles Bell
On Wed, 25 Jan 1995, James A. Donald wrote:
While universities often issue or refrain from issuing certificates for corrupt and improper reasons, government supervision on this matter is unlikely to keep them honest --- indeed it is more likely to force them to be dishonest, or to force them to deny their own sound judgment in favor of arbitrary and foolish criteria imposed by some ignorant and arrogant bureaucrat.
On Wed, 25 Jan 1995, Charles Bell wrote:
So....once we get past what seems to be your utter refusal to consider the possibility that government could ever do anything right ....how do we ensure that those skyscrapers don't fall down on us? That the surgeon who is going to open me up knows something about surgery? That my money is at least somewhat safe in the bank?
Why, we have the credentials and audits of these organizations and individuals checked by a being of godlike wisdom far superior to that of us ordinary mortals -- namely that god on earth, the government. What makes you assume that guns make people wise and virtuous? Common sense and casual observation does not support this hypothesis. I recommend you read the excellent book on free banking sold by Laissez Faire: I do not remember their web site, but I have a pointer to them in my home page. (see sig) It details the sorry tale of government supervision of banks -- which invariably had the effect of the state governments robbing the banks, or protecting well connected crooks who robbed the banks. --------------------------------------------------------------------- | We have the right to defend ourselves | http://www.catalog.com/jamesd/ and our property, because of the kind | of animals that we are. True law | James A. Donald derives from this right, not from the | arbitrary power of the omnipotent state. | jamesd@netcom.com
participants (3)
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Charles Bell -
doumakes＠netcom.com -
James A. Donald