Dumb Regulation Alert: Poor People No Longer Get Free Teeth Cleaning in Arkansas

[Codename Section]

Progressives area always helping people until their teeth fall out.


In 2013, an Arkansas orthodontist, Dr. Ben Burris, felt he needed to give something back to his community. He began offering low-cost teeth cleanings at his orthodontic offices throughout the state. He charged a fraction of what other dentists ask for the same basic service, in an effort to expand dental care to low-income families.
One would think this would be greeted with enthusiasm and support from his colleagues, but instead, Arkansas dentists told him he had to stop his program.

As the Institute for Justice reports (http://ij.org/r/arkansas-dentistry/):

Within weeks, Ben was told by the Arkansas State Board of Dental Examiners that he was breaking the law and that his license would be revoked if he continued offering the cleanings. Arkansas prohibits licensed dental specialists like orthodontists from doing work outside of their specialty even though they are qualified to practice general dentistry.


Was Burris unqualified for the job? Not at all. Ben Burris is a doctor of dental surgery, master of dental science, and did a three-year dental residency at the University of Tennessee in Memphis. He is a licensed dentist and orthodontist in Arkansas.

No patient had ever complained about Burris, nor was there ever any allegation that the doctor had endangered, much less harmed, anyone. The problem, simply put, is that he was upsetting the de facto cartel imposed by the Arkansas Board and going around regulations dealing with dentist specializations that limit supply, and thus drive up prices for patients.
On May 27, 2014, Burris joined the Institute for Justice to file a federal lawsuit to challenge the ban. For the time being, however, hundreds of poor families are being prevented from access to affordable dental and medical care by ridiculous protectionist rules.

Professional cartels and unions--such "friends" of the little people. :rollseyes:

http://blog.panampost.com/daniel-duarte/2014/06/09/private-affordable-care-for-the-poor-not-in-the-united-states-of-protectionism/

[Peter1469]

You would think the government would encourage that sort of thing. Many states push programs like that.

[Common Sense]

So now Dentists are considered progressives?

[Codename Section]

So now Dentists are considered progressives?

Yes. The progressive movement's foundations began with the belief that government had the power to cure ills, such as bad teeth cleaning.

[Mainecoons]

Progressives area always helping people until their teeth fall out.



Professional cartels and unions--such "friends" of the little people. :rollseyes:

http://blog.panampost.com/daniel-duarte/2014/06/09/private-affordable-care-for-the-poor-not-in-the-united-states-of-protectionism/

Note that it is the government working in cahoots with same that is guilty here. I'll repeat once more--if you think we only have a government problem in D.C. you just aren't paying attention.

We need ROLLBACK at every level of government in America. Think 40 percent shrinkage and returning all that wasted and misspent money to the people. That's how you rebuild prosperity.

[Mr. Freeze]

So now Dentists are considered progressives?

When you create a cartel that tells advanced professionals that they cannot do something outside their specialist area you are hindering health. Do you think a heart surgeon cannot treat a cold?

This was done to create artificial scarcity and to force people to obtain multiple licenses from their brand of certifications, and, yes, this is a tactic of the progressive movement to use government in such a manner.

It is always the cry of progressives "for the greater good". If one person gets a bad teeth cleaning the world will end! Lets protect people from bad teeth cleaning for their own good. So let's create a bunch of bullshit regulations that will not only protect people from the dangers of rampant teeth cleaning but also reward our friends with licensing fees!

[Mr. Mensch]

One positive outcome could be that since they will have bad teeth, they will have a harder time getting a date and will stop reproducing, so the result is fewer poor people.

But then again, people from Arkansas may not care what their brother or sister looks like.

[sachem]

I'd bet that dentists themselves came up with that reg/law. Protecting their money.

[nathanbforrest45]

Progressives area always helping people until their teeth fall out.



Professional cartels and unions--such "friends" of the little people. :rollseyes:

http://blog.panampost.com/daniel-duarte/2014/06/09/private-affordable-care-for-the-poor-not-in-the-united-states-of-protectionism/


Milton Friedman, in his book Free to Choose, said that organizations that required licenses from a board like Doctors, Lawyers, Dentist and the like were de facto unions that controlled the cost of those services by setting prices and controlling the number of newcomers into the field. Of course the unions went into hysterics and dry heaves over that one.

[Mr. Freeze]

I am no better an accountant now than I was prior to the CPA and anyone who spent time interviewing me would know that. However, I have the potential to make 60% more with it.

[nathanbforrest45]

I am no better an accountant now than I was prior to the CPA and anyone who spent time interviewing me would know that. However, I have the potential to make 60% more with it.


I think belonging to a professional organization would be a benefit. It tells perspective clients you have a certain level of expertise. However, you may have that level without belonging to that organization. It would then be up to the client to evaluate your competency. Its like being a Certified Purchasing Manager. You can become a CPM by passing certain requirements. Then you can add CPM at the end of your name. Some companies see that as a plus, some don't care but the CPM can normally bring in more rewards.

[Mr. Freeze]

I think belonging to a professional organization would be a benefit. It tells perspective clients you have a certain level of expertise. However, you may have that level without belonging to that organization. It would then be up to the client to evaluate your competency. Its like being a Certified Purchasing Manager. You can become a CPM by passing certain requirements. Then you can add CPM at the end of your name. Some companies see that as a plus, some don't care but the CPM can normally bring in more rewards.


It's a tremendous benefit, but it's a rackett. Like I said I am the same accountant I was before getting the CPA that I am after, so the jokes on my clients.

[Cthulhu]

I think belonging to a professional organization would be a benefit. It tells perspective clients you have a certain level of expertise. However, you may have that level without belonging to that organization. It would then be up to the client to evaluate your competency. Its like being a Certified Purchasing Manager. You can become a CPM by passing certain requirements. Then you can add CPM at the end of your name. Some companies see that as a plus, some don't care but the CPM can normally bring in more rewards.

Eh. People could fall back on the age old resume - a man's reputation. With the internet this is even more interesting than ever.

Better Business Bureau, Angie's List etc... can easily fill the void of some inane licensing committee. I could probably be operating a modest business right now if I didn't have to spend years of my life preparing to get into the guild that will allow me to do what I already do unschooled - chiropractic medicine and massage.

But the guild suffers from greed. Most prerequisite organizations like this only stifle a profession, not nurture it.