1) There are limits to the freedom to make contracts. I can't sell myself into slavery and that is a good thing. 2) maybe I have better information than the go

1) There are limits to the freedom to make contracts. I can't sell myself into slavery and that is a good thing. 2) maybe I have better information than the government, but my potential employer has better information than either of us. I won't have a better picture of the local employment market than a business so I will easily get swindled. 3) allowing the desperate to sign a contract no wants to sign leads to a race to the bottom where everyone has to sign a non-compete. How can I refuse to sign if 99% of applicants will sign even if I am the best applicant? They will just say no to me and take the #2 applicant. The only way to fight non-competes here would be a union to form collective bargaining at which point we have lost the ability to make our own contracts as individuals entirely.