When Licensing Becomes More Scary Than Ghosts: A Tour Guide’s Fight

In a world full of regulations, it seems that some cities have gone a little overboard with their licensing requirements. Take Savannah, Georgia, where tour guide Michelle Freenor faced a gauntlet of ridiculous hurdles just to give tours around the charming—yet haunted—city. From a college-level history exam that suspiciously avoided the most popular ghost stories to unnecessary health checks, the city’s bureaucracy made it tougher to lead a walking tour than to get into Harvard. Ironically, the licensing test didn’t even cover popular topics like ghost tours. Talk about a haunting oversight!

In an epic showdown of consumer rights versus red tape, Freenor partnered with the Institute for Justice to challenge these overly restrictive laws. To everyone’s surprise—even those who thought ghosts were just figments of the imagination—Freenor won the battle! With her victory, Savannah let go of its licensing rules, proving that consumers do best when they can choose instead of being forced to pass a “Government Approval Test.” Who knew it would take a ghostly battle to shed light on the silliness of these regulations?

This story is more than just about one woman’s fight; it’s a reminder that sometimes we let the rules get in the way of good old-fashioned capitalism. While some politicians might think lots of licenses equal safety, they seem to forget that the free market tends to weed out the bad apples all by itself. So next time someone tells you they can’t get a job because of a crazy licensing law, remember: the only thing scarier than ghosts might just be excessive government regulations. What do you think—are there any ridiculous laws in your city that need to be taken down?

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