1. How does John Stossel refute the florists' licensing board of Louisiana which says a florist test is necessary to protect consumers form florists who might sell them unhealthy flowers?

2. Mr. Stossel makes additional points about his opposition to government licensing of private industry. For each point, write whether you agree or disagree and explain your answer.

____________________ "licensing interferes with the freedom to make a living, harms consumers by limiting competition and protects established firms" (from para. 8)

____________________ "Lawyers' monopoly on helping people with wills, bankruptcies and divorces is just another expensive restraint of trade. ... Some of the most famous lawyers in American history, including Thomas Jefferson, Abraham Lincoln and Supreme Court Justice Benjamin Cardozo, had no license from the state. Their customers decided whether they were worthy of being hired." (from para. 9-12)

____________________ "Competition is better than government at protecting consumers from shoddy work. Furthermore, licensing creates a false sense of security. Consider this: When you move to a new community, do you ask neighbors or colleagues to recommend doctors, dentists and mechanics even though those jobs are licensed? Of course. Because you know that even with licensing laws, there is a wide range of quality and outright quackery in every occupation. You know that licensing doesn't really protect you." (from para. 13)

____________________ "A free competitive market for reputation protects consumers much more effectively than government can. Today, online services like Angie's List make it even easier for consumers to get better information about businesses than government licensing boards will ever provide. We do need protection from shoddy businesses. But it's freedom and competition that produce the best protection." (from para. 14)

3. Ask a parent whether he/she agrees or disagrees with the main idea of Mr. Stossel commentary and to explain why.