I don't think there are many protections in either case. I don't know what your experience is, but when people show up to work on my house they don't seem to d

I don't think there are many protections in either case. I don't know what your experience is, but when people show up to work on my house they don't seem to do so without a lot of protections or regulations and I don't feel very worried about it. If your experience is different, please elaborate. Larger point: The original post is by an old guy talking about how great things were in the old days. Even Adam Smith made fun of how it is human nature for people to think things are going to hell. Economists do think over-regulation is a problem. But what they think is a problem is regulation that protect incumbents large and small (farm subsidies, accreditation). Getting sued by your house painter is silly.