Occupational Licensing in the Media

I’ve noticed that some journalists assume it’s normal for the government to license occupations and restrict entry to them. When states don’t license an activity, these writers point it out as an aberration. An example of this bias appears in today’s Wall Street Journal article about anger management seminars:

There are no licensing requirements for anger-management trainers—anyone an open a business.

Let’s hope it stays that way. I’d hate to see Missouri create a Board of Anger Management Professionals (which would probably hold very calm, boring meetings).