To the editor:

I’ve been wondering about the seemingly immense appeal of “Joe the Plumber” for the Republicans.

And then it dawned on me; he’s not a licensed plumber. In fact, he could be seen as a deregulated plumber.

On that basis, I could be a plumber. While looking in my toolbox the other day, I discovered that I own a pipe wrench. I don’t need a certificate to do much of anything. I could put up a sign or hang out a shingle and call myself anything I wanted to. I’ve put out campfires, so I could be a fireman.

I read a law once so I could be a lawyer. I read a book about first aid so I could be a doctor.

We could deregulate everything. We could eliminate ridiculous standards and practices codes and rules and any or all of us could do whatever we wanted.

Caveat emptor (Let the buyer beware).

Now this plan could create some confusion for awhile, but once we realized that many of us didn’t know what we were doing, then we would not ever have to worry again about whether or not someone was truly qualified to do anything because very few would be.

Let’s hear it for deregulation. Soon our entire society can function just as well as the banking and finance system works today.

George H. Westergaard

Clinton