The XX Factor: What women really think.

The Black Market in Home Decorating

My old friends at Reason have a short video on a woman being prosecuted for practicing interior design without a license in Alabama. It would appear that the woman in question already has the skill required to competently arrange throw pillows. But the American Society of Interior Designers insists that licensing is a safety issue; indeed, that "every decision an interior designer makes affects the health, safety, and, welfare of the public." In order to get a license, this woman would have to obtain a college degree, complete an apprenticeship, and pass a test.    

One could argue that homeowners want some kind of relevant accreditation, but it's not clear to me why that accreditation need be legally mandatory. (Yes, I am dismissing the idea of color-scheme-related injury.) In any case I feel betrayed by Sally Struthers, who made it seem that any of us could become interior designers (or TV/VCR repairmen) without leaving the comfort of our living rooms.