While politicians do make statutes for the State regulatory functions for licensed professions in the trades, they do not, there after, do the actual regulating. The Secretary of Commerce's office does that. This removes individual Senators and Representatives from the ability to extort tribute for "favors". This is especially true of Republican Senators and Representatives, in my opinion, since I do not remember a Republican who got trade union support. The Governor appoints the Secretary of Commerce, so this also allows another level of separation, especially in years when there is not a Democrat holding that office.
General Contractors, Realtors, Appraisers, Barbers, Electricians, Plumbers, Beauticians, Barbers, Insurance Salespeople, and many other professions and trades are regulated by such licensure. The requirements for such licensure are demonstrated education and passing an independently administered test. In addition background checks are done concerning possible criminal behavior and ethical problems, the individual is usually required to work for certain numbers of hours in a quasi apprenticeship role, (two to three thousand hours of actual work for an Appraiser), and the person sometimes is required to show proof of certain levels of insurance, etc. While input from the trades themselves is used in the State testing, the tests are administered by independent testing agencies, which make great efforts to assure that independence. This testing usually involves not only skills required by the specific trade, but also ethics, business, law, and work safety, among other things. I think such licensure is a far different thing than what Minneapolis requires. Wherever there is a duplication of licensure required for work in Minneapolis I would expect to see signs of political patronage and actual graft involved. I wonder why the FBI has not investigated those practices for violation of the RICO act. Sounds like a pattern of behavior that lends itself to organized crime to me, how about others? I do not think this is an attack on Unions. Unions have given American workers many of the advantages that Eric listed. Many of those advantages came by taking the opportunities that corrupt politicians offered. That is there job to represent the interests of their members. It is the job of a politician to represent the interests of those residing in their wards. This is, however, a condemnation of a corrupt political system that unions take advantage of for the benefit of those they represent. If we have learned anything from our City's recent past, it is that the system needs to be changed so seeming honest politicians are not tempted to do a little "dealing". We do, however, need to clean up the system so honest property owners and residents in Minneapolis are not preyed upon by such a system. If this "system" or "pattern" results in the residents and homeowners of poor inner-city neighborhoods paying more for the same service than a wealthy suburban homeowner does, then it is unethical at best, and CRIMINAL at worst. If the City Council and Mayor of Minneapolis are not ethical enough to change this practice then I expect the Minnesota State Legislature to put an end to such victimization. Or perhaps the Minnesota Attorney General should look at the situation because people are conspiring or engaging in a pattern of behavior that may possibly defraud consumers. Congratulations to Olin Moore and Don Samuels. Being a Democrat, I guess "our" guy wins this one for sure. I have always liked Olin, and after listening to Don on WCCO at 4:30 on Sunday morning I must admit I am very, very impressed with Don's "neighborhood" thinking! We have two fine people running for that 3rd Ward seat! So lets get right to some "Fine " work for them! Since they are presently running to be City Council Members, I think it is fair to ask Don Samuels and Olin Moore where they stand on this licensure issue. As the seat they are seeking to occupy is empty for this very reason, they can't say they don't know about the issue, (and probably would be well advised not say they don't know the issue). Since all the neighborhoods they wish to represent are victimized by this practice, I am sure the good people of the 3rd Ward would also like to know. We would ALL like to know if they intend to overtly and actively seek to change this pattern when they are elected? So how about each answering it for us personally? Or if not, how about one of the surrogates, who write to the list, answering the question for them? Jim Graham, Ventura Village P.S. Eric says, "There has been illegal activity in every single employer I have ever had, and that's been everything from corporate to small business, to non-profit, to public sector." I am glad to see Eric acknowledge this. After our discussion of PPL and Fair Housing Law, is there something else? P.S.S. Jim Mork should be notified that one of those criminal acts, (that he doubts occurs), happened last night on Park Avenue right off of Franklin. I guess a phantom may have been shot, or it could have been random gunfire, such as occured in all "good" neighborhoods last night. _______________________________________ Minneapolis Issues Forum - A City-focused Civic Discussion - Mn E-Democracy Post messages to: mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] Subscribe, Unsubscribe, Digest, and more: http://e-democracy.org/mpls
