I Can Predict How This Will End Up

Town government in Salem, MA is working with its, um, psychic community to determine the proper qualifications for entry into the field.

Lawyers have the bar exam. Accountants have the CPA exam.

Should Salem's fortunetellers have to pass a test of their own to prove they're psychic?

City councilors, hoping to crack down on fraudulent fortunetellers, are trying to define exactly how a psychic can become licensed to set up shop in the Witch City. They want candidates to undergo a criminal background check and to either live or run a business in Salem for at least a year.

But many psychics want the city to go a step further  - make sure they're actually qualified to predict the future.

Look, there's only one way to discern fortunetellers' abilities -- make 'em predict something and see if it comes true.  Wanna bet that won't be part of the licensing process?  The government shouldn't be worrying about silly people who spend money trying to find out the future and then feel cheated.  You can't legislate against foolishness, though we keep trying.

I can understand the desire of the psychics to participate in this exercise, though.  Like every other group of workers, they'll find it in their own best interests to create legal barriers to others trying to  do the same work.  They can charge more if there's less competition for their services.  That's why you need a license to cut someone's fingernails in New York State.

[UPDATE:] I remember when I was a kid, my mom's best friend ran a small beauty parlor out of her home. As a favor, she used to cut my hair for next to nothing.  But she would first draw the curtains and I was always reminded not to tell anyone because her license only permitted her to cut women's and girls' hair and she didn't want a fine.

The barbers' lobby must have been quite strong in New York back then -- though the seventies would eventually put most of them out of business anyway.