"Besides being wrong on your "sell all you want" comments, you miss the point."
OK. Up to 50 hives.
Now, think about enforcement. I can order a package or a queen from you today and nothing will stop them from getting to me. The reason for the permit is in case I have a problem with the order. If I order from someone who isn't permitted, the state won't help me solve the problem. If I buy from a permitted breeder, the state will come to my assistance.
Knowing the proficiency and pay rates of governmental employees, even on the state level, I doubt the 25.00 even covers the expense of issuing the permit, but it helps keep folks honest when dealing with NC customers.
No, I'm not upset with you, but I do think you gave an unbalanced report on my state. You know by now you can't upset me. I just wish the reverse were true.
I am greatly disappointed with your new position of supported and supposedly needed enforcement by government in the matters of business between a seller and buyer.
If I read this right, it goes like this....
1) For safety sake of the buyers within North Carolina, the state maintains sellers lists.
2) The buyers in the state have willingly agreed and support, in exchange for government security and intervention, the loss of buyer freedoms and buy only from prepared and approved lists.
I guess my questions would be...
1) What brought about the need for this? I don't see this same limitation in buyer freedoms in other states in exchange for government control.
2) Are the buyers in North Carolina actually just stupid, lazy, or just willing to be allowed to be told where to buy, who to buy from, etc? In all the other states, natural forces of supply and demand, marketing, and the dealings of business, play out. Bad suppliers are called out, suffer from bad PR, etc.
So is this the operating procedure for all things being sold to North Carolina folks? Or is this government protection only afforded to helpless beekeepers? How many beekeepers were getting ripped off that facilitated this needed restrictions to the North Carolina beekeeping community?
I think when any group looks to the government for solving their problems, limitation, restrictions, and negative impacts are felt in many areas.
People in North Carolina, from what you are suggesting, openly and gladly exchange your rights to buy from any person you want to in the country, in exchange for the security of not being ripped off.
I of course buy none of this. :-D
The state easily could maintain a list of sellers, who are properly inspected and licensed in their own state, without fees. The 9 operations that paid the $25 dollars comes to $225 dollars. I agree the fees are paying for nothing. But the collection of $225 dollars, allows the state to dictate for every beekeeper in North Carolina, who and from where to buy. If I lived in North Carolina, I would be appalled.
Liberty, freedom to conduct business, and individual responsibility, are key to my thinking. I do not look to the government to maintain approved lists and dictate who I can buy from. And I am saddened to hear that this is the reasoning for limiting the freedoms of buyers in North Carolina. I know I will never willingly give my approval to such a thing in exchange for some perceived protection from the government.
Some talk the talk....but many fewer actually walk the walk. ;)