Beware Unlicensed Casket-Selling Monks
In practice, the red tape that grows like kudzu at state and local levels is ofetn felt more keenly by would-be entrepreneurs. Take, for instance, the case of some Louisiana monks trying to earn their way out of financial trouble by selling handmade cypress coffins:
Brown, a soft-spoken man who is only the fifth leader of a monastery that dates to 1889, said he had not known that in Louisiana only licensed funeral directors are allowed to sell ‘funeral merchandise.’That means that St. Joseph Abbey must either give up the casket-selling business or become a licensed funeral establishment, which would require a layout parlor for 30 people, a display area for the coffins, the employment of a licensed funeral director and an embalming room.’Really,’ Brown said. ‘It’s just a big box.’
Haywood - The Rent Seeking practice of creating artificial monopolies by using legislation to create “licensed craft trades” is irresistible even to Republican Politicians at the State and Local level. Why? Creating groups of constituents with income guaranteed by legislation in effect, state created monopolies, creates interest groups who wish to protect that income by seeking political influence with political donations. Where you see licenses you will also see politicians with their hands out.