RDK said:
Before anyone gets off on the fact that there are regional differences, we just had a major snow storm pass through here. A Florida driver’s license would still be valid even though the driver had never seen snow before. There are regional driving differences as well but licenses are fully transferable. There are differing traffic laws. The onus is still on the other jurisdiction’s driver to be familiar with the different circumstances and regulations and comply with then.
Speeding tickets earned in California are charged demerits on my Manitoba license, so discipline is not a problem.
Now make that an engineer practicing and can someone please differentiate between the two cases?
That's quite a rant. We certainly know how you feel about Canada, but I think a bigger point was missed.
If you really know about the "mechanism", then surely you would agree that it's a great thing that a bad contractor or engineer NOT being able to wreak havoc across an entire country, but being localized to one area, until he can prove his merits, is a GOOD thing?
Perhaps if you had (or maybe you have) worked in Florida during the aftermath of the major hurricanes, you would understand why state licensing is such a good thing, in the interest of protecting the public? I, sir, was almost a victim of "cut and run." (and it had to do not only with money, but also local code and ordinance!!!) If that's what considered acceptable in Canada, or anywhere else in the world, I have a fundamental difference of opinion with "the majority." The quality of work that was performed in many cases, was sub-par, and many of the contractors vanished overnight. (but they got rich) To be perfectly frank, this ain't the "honor's system." The more a business/individual invests in their work, the less likely that they will be to run roughshod over the rules. Your example about driving was perfect - when it comes to driving, idiots aren't manageable, even in their own jursidiction. There's no realistic way to enforce driving infractions. Breaking traffic laws can be chalked up to local revenues. (a good thing, in the eyes of many communities) Businesses are different, though. You see, there are more drivers than there are business owners. It's not as hard to ensure that businesses are following the rules.
No offense, but the reason it's like that, is because there are a whole lot of dishonest people in the world, and some places have more than others. Florida (where I live) seems to be one of those places, and is a US leader in this type of crime. I personally, do not believe, from my own experience, that the system is strict enough.
RDK said:
These restrictions on economic and professional mobility are hurting the US economy at the profit of some individual engineers. Is not the protection of the public one of our overriding ethical concerns? So why are we putting up with harming the public purse for the enrichment of a few?
No, I don't think so. Without the restrictions, the "mobility" could become a license to do harm. Protection of the public? Well, where's the public protection, when the harm is ALREADY done? What if anyone could BS their way into a new state, make a quick buck, and disappear? That has happened before in the US, and the vast array of laws is just the gradual evolution of an attempt to curb these things from happening. Granted, they do, at times, fall horribly short. But I'd hate to live in the US, as I know it, with a "driver's license" type of occupational license...
As for your comment about the "enrichment of a few" - you constantly refer to Canada in your posts, so I'm assuming that you are much more comfortable with a Socialist mindset, in which case, we must agree to disagree. Yes, people are greedy, but a more important point was overlooked. Quite simply, too often there is a failure to acknowledge that not everyone has what it takes to be a "big guy." I, myself, am one of these people. I have an engineering firm, but I could NEVER, on my own, be highly successful. I don't know what the hell you're talking about, (although I'm afraid that you're going to elaborate) because in the USA, I see successful entrepeneurs all around me! There are SO MANY small engineering firms that are doing well for themselves, and no shortage of work. If the licensing issue is such a problem, it tells me one of 2 things:
1) You started your business in the wrong state.
2) You want to be a "big guy." (and probably can't)
Besides, being a professional engineer isn't SUPPOSED to be any easy thing... What are we, used car salesmen? Do you think that lawyers should have an open license to practice law? Or what about doctors - should a board certification be universal? Here's a hint - the key word in all of these professions is "professional" - you are expected to know your business as it pertains to a certain area BETTER than an average driver on a street to anywhere. If you don't like the rules that surround working as a professional, you can always take the blue-collar mentality BACK to a blue-collar job. (there is NO dishonor in that, but it is a different perspective of reality)
There is also the taxation aspect, but I'm not too interested in discussing that, anymore than I am in turning this thread into a discussion of Canadian Socialism vs. US capitalism.
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