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| Man fined for criticizing govt using science, without a license |
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| donotdespisethesnake:
It's clear that he broke the law and continued to do so after it was pointed out to him. It didn't help that he tried to sue the authorities (he lost), all so he could get his wife off of a traffic ticket. When people buy electronics, they must be assured it is made by a licensed electronics engineer, and not just someone who happened to learn electronics at home and now calls themselves an electronics engineer. This sort of wanton lawlessness should be clamped down upon hard, in any free and open society. You simply cannot have people challenging unelected government officials, that is not democratic! |
| MarkS:
--- Quote from: donotdespisethesnake on April 26, 2017, 09:53:09 am ---It's clear that he broke the law and continued to do so after it was pointed out to him. It didn't help that he tried to sue the authorities (he lost), all so he could get his wife off of a traffic ticket. --- End quote --- Actually, according the the U.S. Constitution, he did not break a law. The Constitution is the document that all U.S. laws are judged on. You cannot enact a law that restricts a person's speech without clear and immediate dangers to public safety (or some legal terminology that escapes my mind at the moment). As such, the law in question, as written, will most likely not stand a constitutional challenge. More over, he only filed the lawsuit last week, so he hasn't lost and will most likely prevail. |
| Red Squirrel:
That's freaking ridiculous. Having to be "registered" to practice engineering is a thing... wow. I don't want to live on this planet anymore. Seriously, this kind of stuff pisses me off and it's all over. So much ridiculous legislation like this everywhere you turn and it's only getting worse. |
| CJay:
While this case seems to be rather ridiculous and seems to be a way to silence him, I believe engineers should be afforded some sort of professional status and right to use the title, I have heard that they are in some countries, Germany and Switzerland perhaps? |
| jpanhalt:
I agree with those who say the difference lies in whether he held himself out to be a professional in a profession or trade licensed and regulated by the state (e.g., physician, lawyer, some types of engineer, electricians) or whether the term was used descriptively. Whether one gets paid for services rendered as "profession" may or may not be relevant to a violation. For example, representing another person in court as a lawyer is a violation regardless of whether you get paid as is calling yourself an M.D. and treating patients absent that degree and license. In a case in Minnesota with which I am familiar, an individual licensed by the state as a PE needed to sign off on design of a building's foundation. The building's main structure also needed similar approval and sign-off by a licensed engineer. However, portions of the building were "engineered" by a contractor who was not a licensed engineer nor did he need to be one. The state ruled there was no violation in that act. Of course, it is hard to predict how West Coast judges will rule. John |
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