On the other hand, you really want a professional association that can put a doctor out of business permanently if they persistently fuck up, and assure that new doctors have the requisite training.  The AMA is an example of professional licencing that does in fact benefit consumers.  A line industrial worker who is always drunk on the job is a much smaller problem than a doctor who is always drunk on the job.<p>That said, I&#x27;m all for unions, because they provide protection for workers from rent-seeking behavior by corporations.  If it makes my prices a bit higher, so what.