8 Awful Laws That Prove in America, Special Interests Trump the Market Every Time

Famous Chinese philosopher Laozi once rightfully said: "The more laws that are written, the more criminals are produced." He's right because many of these laws, created under the illusory "public good" pretense, are actually designed to protect entrenched interests and stifle innovation and creation.

Here are eight such state laws:

1. Illegal Dinner Parties

In New York City, you need a permit to sell food to people. Because, you know, chefs would otherwise try to poison you. But considering how lengthy and costly a project it is, some in the culinary industry have started hosting underground dinner parties. How dare they don't ask permission before selling a service!

2. Illegal Apartment Rental

In several cities around the world, including New York City, only lawful lodging with all the appropriate permits can sell a short-term room to people. But considering how expensive it can be, some people have asked for alternatives. One of them is Air BnB, by which a person rents his own home to strangers for a fee for a few days or a few weeks. Of course, hotels are unhappy with that and have asked for action, which NYC has done by cracking down those "illegal" rentals.

3. Illegal Hairdressing

In states such as Alaska, Ohio, and Tennessee, a hair dresser is required to have at least 1,000 hours in training, along with other requirements, before he or she can acquire a state-issued license for a fee. Let's hope that, for our sake, they regularly crack down on people who would dare cut our own hair without permission! I hear say that black-market hairdressers use sulfuric acid ...

4. Illegal Prostitution

Almost everywhere in the country except a few counties in Nevada, consenting adults can't have for-pay sex ... unless it's in front of a camera, in which case it's pornography. Legalizing it could actually help sex workers; besides, selling one's body is no different than any other kind of physical labor.

5. Illegal Large-Sized Soda

Until a few months ago, Nanny Bloomberg had succeeded something "everyone" had wanted for a long time: a ban on large soft drinks. His premise: It will help in the fight against obesity. Of course, he completely ignores the fact that oversubsidized corn, which is used to create dirt-cheap corn syrup that sweetens almost everything made in the U.S., makes those large drinks possible.

And even if his banned had held up, people would have found “legal” solutions around it.

6. Illegal Ride

In Bloomington, Illinois, it is illegal to pay someone for a ride without proper city-issued permits. This gives existing companies the right of life and death over would-be competitors. Fortunately, a judge recently ruled in favor of a woman who wanted to create such a service.

In San Francisco, the taxi cartel has "helped" the airport target ride shares. Who cares if passengers have to spend more; we need to protect our "rights."

The same thing has happened in Los Angeles. Fortunately for ride sharers, the new mayor is sympathetic to their cause.

7. Illegal Moving

The Connecticut General Assembly recently approved a bill, later vetoed by the governor, which would have relaxed the rules for new moving companies. As it stands now, "New moving companies must convince a panel of bureaucrats that they won't negatively impact existing movers before setting up shop." Since when does government can assess the market?

However, those laws are nothing compared to what exists in Nevada. There are only a limited number of licenses issued by the state, which helps established companies kill off competitors. A man has recently put that law to a challenge.

8. Illegal Real Estate

In Nebraska, you can't show information about houses (even if you don't receive any commission) without a proper licensing. A woman from the state learned that and is now in court so her business, which is no different from a newspaper advertising houses for sale, can stay and continue to respond to a demand.