Mattel makes a line of Barbie dolls under the moniker of “I can be …” in which Barbie shows she can be in any profession she wants: doctor, a teacher, a computer tech and a variety of other occupations. Ah, but Barbie has never had to confront an occupational licensing board. Sorry, Barbie. If Barbie were a car wash attendant or a waitress or newspaper delivery person or a grocery store clerk, she would have a tough time finding a new career that might pay more money and raise her standard of living. And that’s true even in Idaho, where we are assured that regulatory barriers are few and far between. The Institute for Justice recently examined the issue of occupational licensing in all 50 states, asking, “What are the government’s requirements to work in a particular field?” IJ found that Idaho ranks 36th when it comes occupational licensing burdens/Wayne Hoffman, Idaho Freedom Foundation. More there.

Question: How have government regulations hurt you in Idaho?