[renewiltord]

I’m sure some aspect of this is the North American culture of high credentialism. Everything must be done by “properly trained” “experts” and whatnot. During the pandemic people on Han were talking about how N95 masks need you to be trained by professionals in a fit test. It’s a 15 min video on the 3M site…

Here’s the facts: I can do almost any job well without needing extensive training. But credentialism gets in the way of my helping myself and others.

[Eumenes]

Agreed. I recently had a conversation with an immigrant nurse from Bosnia, but in the US, her credentials only allow her to be a CNA. She literally had the same nursing job in Bosnia but now gets 1/4th of the pay to clean up poop. There's a nursing shortage too. The higher education system in the US is insanely corrupt and has massive reach with licensure.

[Ferret7446]

Perhaps you can, but how can someone who doesn't know you trust that you can?

[renewiltord]

Ah but here's the thing: for things that affect me alone, perhaps just let me do it. An alternative, that I believe could be effective, is a bond that is paid into and managed in a similar way as 401k plans are.

E.g. say I want to try heroin. I furnish the $250k into the fund, get to try it, and 4 y later I get my money back if I pass a heroin drug test.