Within the recent past and prior, utility companies in many states were regulated.
One of the items those regulations addressed was what they could charge for their product and service.
Texas was one of those states.
About thirty years ago, a pitchman for the electricity providers was the speaker at the Rotary Club where I was a member. He laid out a plan for deregulating the utilities.
Of course, as in most things like that, the primary bait is that letting the companies be under the control of the buying public would surely cause the competition to result in lower rates.
When the question and answer time came, I asked this question of the some 200 members of the club:
"Have any of you ever spoken with or written any one of your state representatives about utility rates? Please raise your hand."
And my follow up question: "Do you think deregulation will benefit the public? If you do, please raise your hand."
Not one hand was raised in response to either question.
And deregulation came, and nothing of consequence got better for the consumer. Rates didn't diminish, only service did.
Recently, Texas has enacted some new wrinkles in our real estate licensing. It's complicated and weird.
Among other things, is it attempts to masks that sales people are agents.
Agents are to brokers as disciples were to Christ. They are spokespersons for the broker, and act in the broker's behalf.
So I'd like a show of hands of all of you who think changing state licensing laws in your state -- especially Texas -- benefited you or the public.
And the follow-up question: How many contacted your state representatives asking that he/she support specific changes?
Bill Cherry
Broker-Realtor
Keller Williams Dallas Premier
Celebrating My 50th Year Serving Texans
214 503-8563
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