[brianlweiner]

Maybe I'm confused, but reality definitely includes several independent certification organizations. e.g UL, NSF International.

And of course when I buy a house the government doesn't provide an inspector, instead I have to choose from any number of independent home inspectors (some better than others).

Now of course they're often confirming that construction has been done to code (plumbing, electrical, etc), but it's not a far jump to say that these codes could be established and maintained by independent groups like IEEE rather than the specific city and state authorities.

[hackuser]

> it's not a far jump to say that these codes could be established and maintained by independent groups like IEEE rather than the specific city and state authorities.

It's a bit of a jump. The "independent" groups are not independent but are run by the inudstry being regulated, and will act accordingly. Government is responsible to its citizens.