From physicians to dentists to lawyers, the licensing
requirements of many professions are well known—but for bloggers? A recent case
in North Carolina demonstrates the dangers that mandatory occupational
licensing poses to liberty and how established interests use such requirements
to protect their bottom line.
North Carolina resident Steve Cooksey was ill, obese, and
struggling with type 2 diabetes. In 2009, after being rushed to the hospital,
nearly in a coma, he decided to do everything in his power to get healthy. By
following a low-carbohydrate diet, Cooksey claims he was able to drop 45 pounds
and get off insulin and drugs. He documented his story on his personal blog,
where he provided advice to others practicing the “paleo” diet that he believes
saved his life.
That sounds like a win-win situation, but not according
to the North Carolina Board of Dietetics and Nutrition (NCBDN), which decided
to go after Cooksey for the “crime” of offering nutritional advice without a
dietitian’s license. In 2011, it sent Cooksey a letter, claiming that his blog,
by giving readers “unlicensed dietetic advice,” even for free, violated North
Carolina law. The NCBDN included a 19-page copy of his online writings with
comments in red ink pointing out what he could and could not say.……..Today, roughly 30 percent of jobs in the U.S. require some form of license (a sharp increase from a low back in 1950, when the share was only 5 percent). Fortunately, some workers are fighting these licensing regime—and many are winning.....To Read More….
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