According to wingnuts, I mean conservatives, there is too much government and the only thing that progressives want is more government.
Well, here’s a shocker for you. Here’s something that I believe is totally ridiculous for any government to regulate:
The District [of Columbia] makes it illegal for anyone to work as a “sightseeing guide” without first passing a test and obtaining a special government license.
That’s right. New regulations make it illegal in the District to “describe any place or point of interest to any person” on a tour without a license. And if you’re caught doing this grave threat to peace and good order, you can be jailed for up to three months.
Now I can understand taxi drivers having to be licensed. I understand having to license my dog. The DC government is probably one of the worst run local governments in the region. You have school board members who think that the high school in their neighborhood is their own fiefdom. Residents pay high property taxes and sales taxes (6% general sales tax, 9% – Liquor sold for off-the-premises consumption, 10% – Restaurant meals, liquor for consumption on the premises, and rental vehicles, 12% – Parking motor vehicles in commercial lots, and 14.5% – Hotels) and yet their streets are the worst in the region, their schools, while getting better, still lag in student achievement, and police and fire response still are something to be desired. And my friends wonder why I moved away from there and relocated to Delaware.
And let’s not forget that Marion Barry (Crackhead/Tax Dodger – Ward Eight) is still serving on the City Council.
But c’mon, making tour guides pass a nonsense test to be officially licensed? It’s enough to make me award the DC Government today’s Asshat of the Day Award.