Did you hear about the 11-year old Portland Oregon girl, Madison Root, who went to her grandparents farm and cut up and packaged Mistletoe to sell near a local outdoor craft market to raise money for her orthodontic work? She was forced to quit selling her products because she didn't have a permit. While I personally believe that the government at all levels is excessive in its bureaucracy, permitting, and regulation (i.e. is it really necessary for the government to control and monitor someone selling Mistletoe for a few weekends), I also do think it is important that laws and regulations be uniformly applied so as not to provide unfair advantages for some, and not others. While it is admirable that this little girl took this entrepreneurial initiative, what if there was another business owner who was also trying to sell Mistletoe and yet they did everything by the book and had to absorb the cost and hassle of a city permit? Wouldn't that give young entrepreneur Madison Root an unfair advantage?
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What struck me most about this story was the point that Madison made that there were others in near vicinity who were panhandling for money, some of whom were publicly advertising that they wanted the money to buy pot. As a society do we really think it's OK for people to be allowed to beg for money offering nothing in return, but where a little girl who goes to the effort of delivering something of value can not sell her product over a couple of days a year for a few dollars because she hasn't jumped through some meaningless bureaucratic hoops?
What do you think? Please comment below. Should Madison be allowed to sell her Mistletoe near Saturday Market without being regulated as a business, since she's selling a seasonal item for only a couple of days a year? Should she simply comply with the regulations? Should people be able to play music with a hat out for money or panhandle for money for drugs in the same location without a permit, while this young entrepreneur can't sell her product there? Do you think it would make a difference if she said she was giving away her Mistletoe for free, but suggested a $4 donation for her braces?
If you'd like to buy some of Madison's Mistletoe and support this young entrepreneur you can do so by visiting her new website and placing an order: http://madisonsmistletoe.com
What do you think? Please comment below. Should Madison be allowed to sell her Mistletoe near Saturday Market without being regulated as a business, since she's selling a seasonal item for only a couple of days a year? Should she simply comply with the regulations? Should people be able to play music with a hat out for money or panhandle for money for drugs in the same location without a permit, while this young entrepreneur can't sell her product there? Do you think it would make a difference if she said she was giving away her Mistletoe for free, but suggested a $4 donation for her braces?
If you'd like to buy some of Madison's Mistletoe and support this young entrepreneur you can do so by visiting her new website and placing an order: http://madisonsmistletoe.com
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