TheAgitator.com
The Horse Rubberer
Wednesday, June 11th, 2008Bob Ewing of the Institute for Justice writes on yet another case of overly aggressive professional groups conspiring to inhibit economic freedom:
Mercedes [Clemens] has a thriving massage practice in Rockville that offers both human and animal massage. In addition to being a licensed massage therapist, Mercedes is certified in equine massage — a growing trade that calms horses, improving their temperament and making them easier to handle — and has even taught the practice to others.
In February, two politically connected groups decided to use their power to monopolize the practice of animal massage and shut down Mercedes’ business. The Maryland Board of Chiropractic Examiners, which licenses massage therapists who work on humans, joined forces with the Maryland State Board of Veterinary Medical Examiners to threaten Mercedes with thousands of dollars in fines and criminal prosecution unless she spends four years in veterinary school — where massage is not even taught.
I thought this was going to be an article about the former head of FEMA
This is one of those that just make you wonder ‘does ANYONE meet the standards these two groups got put into law’? It would be interesting to find out how many people actually do, and hmm, are they high-ups in either group?
This is also an indication of why health care is so expensive. Doctors collude to keep any and all competition out of the business of health. Why is it illegal for me to, for instance, pay my neighbor to remove a splinter from my toe? What if my neighbor was really really good at it and only charged 5 bucks for the service? Doctors are required to go to 12 years of college just to have the “right” to treat people. And we wonder why health care is so expensive.
good thing they nipped this in the bud before it endangered our family values and hurt the children!
I thought this was going to be about someone who puts condoms on horses.
I thought this was going to be about someone who puts condoms on horses.
Yeah, Radley…if you’re gonna mention horses and rubber in the same title, you better pony up with the goods…:P
This is one of those that just make you wonder ‘does ANYONE meet the standards these two groups got put into law’?
I would assume that it’s easy for someone who’s already a vet to get the massage license.
Ahhhh rent seeking at it finest. And people scoff at public choice theory.
And here is the flaw inherent in both the Democrats and now Republicans view of government. The view is that, “If we get just the right person in charge….” Problem is that our political process almost surely ensures that the person seeking the office is both a narcissist and power hungry and owing favors to varous constituencies that put him/her in power–i.e. exactly the wrong person. The result, crap like this.
So, by their logic, people who give humans massages should have to be doctors. Using the restrictions of a licensing framework just to reduce competition is cowardly and only hurts the consumer.
But…
There are times when limiting activities based on strict licensing processes makes sense. Surgery, medical diagnostics, drug dispensing and prescribing, psychiatric counseling, Forensic Pathology!!. (It would be nice if we could throw police in there too)
I don’t really think the costs of most medical procedures are unfairly high because those performing them have to be licensed, thus reducing competition. True, if you could go to the corner bar and have Mac treat your aortic embolism, it will be cheaper, but in that case, you get what you pay for. Also, I generally remove my own splinters, except in the case I cannot see or reach it, and given the location of such a splinter, I think my neighbor would charge me a premium anyway (:
Kevin, you could probably say that police are licensed, in that they nearly all go through the police academies and are vetted through that process. Remember that licensing doesn’t need a separate entity to do it.
You might want to tone down the strawman arguments with health care, tho. The health care that most people think you shouldn’t need a license for is colds and continuing ailments that should probably be seen by someone somewhat knowledgeable, but don’t really need 12 years of training. And some of the best knowledge that those folks in between could have would be to know when they don’t know, and send you to one of the more credentialed doctors.
Correction: policy academies shouldn’t be considered as vetting applicants, considering the amount of harm and danger that police officers cause to the public and to the system. Even though the system itself is broken, if a police officer had enough integrity, then they wouldn’t cause harm and then say “just doing my job”, “it’s the system, so don’t blame me” etc etc etc. We would see so much more of cops breaking the blue wall of silence because their integrity would REQUIRE them to not look the other way and “go along to get along”.
Since I used to live in Rockville, I could make some crass remark about being glad I no longer live there. But I won’t. Cases like this disturb me greatly. Apparently, pursuing a legitimate business that does good and no harm is insufficent. It wasn’t that long ago that chiropractors were rated alongside tent revivalists and horse dopers. They seem to have forgotten they were once the underdogs. Or perhaps this is their way of getting their own back? Either way, it stinks on ice.
“The Maryland Board of Chiropractic Examiners, which licenses massage therapists who work on humans, joined forces with the Maryland State Board of Veterinary Medical Examiners to threaten Mercedes with thousands of dollars in fines and criminal prosecution unless she spends four years in veterinary school — where massage is not even taught.”
I don’t see where either has group has, combined or separately, been given the legal authority to fine her. Just because a group claims an activity falls under their jurisdiction does not make it so. Doesn’t legislation have to declare that an activity needs to be handled by a given board or authority?
Yeah, Radley…if you’re gonna mention horses and rubber in the same title, you better pony up with the goods…:P
Hrm… you mount a good argument.
“where you want these clydesdales, ma’am?”
Medical care?
I purchase my antibiotics through the feed supply store. Cheaper than going to the doctor and then the pharmacist. And considering I don’t carry insurance…
Cuts? Super glue and duct tape. Works every time.
This is completely untrue. Medical costs are absolutely higher because people have to go to doctors for every medical problem, even the ones a nurse or pharmacist or lab tech could handle just fine.
Same thing with dentistry (which I believe Balko has covered extensively). You have to go to a dentist’s office for a simple teeth cleaning? That’s insane.
Plus the dental and medical schools aren’t expanding as quickly as they would like because of pressure from existing dentists and doctors to limit the competition from a flood of new practitioners.
Have you rubbed your horse today?
So, does this mean farmers and those who work in animal husbandry have to go to chiropractor school and vet school to learn how to inseminate a cow or collect the bull’s uh, seed? Now theres a racket. Paying money for 4-8 years to take classes in Vet school learning how to wank off a Bull. Spring break is in Tijuana right?
“I thought this was going to be about someone who puts condoms on horses.
Yeah, Radley…if you’re gonna mention horses and rubber in the same title, you better pony up with the goods…:P
Hrm… you mount a good argument.”
gads… musty we be saddled with these puns? Or are you folks just trying to stirrup trouble? I bridle at the thought!
(Just trying to do my bit…)
Huh huh huh huh…you said ‘whores.’
Yeah, heh heh…whores are cool. Heh heh.