The markets are very much on the radar. Although the licensing fees are still low, the city owned markets are now charging more every year for the right to use the sidewalk. Some of those fees are quite high. Some markets use tokens in addition to cash; these tokens go through the market manager and are recorded. The market system grew tremendously in the past few years, but I think that they will start to decline in a few years as more and more regulations and fees are leveled at the producer. Eventually, the various local governments will make markets unfeasible because their virility will be rubbing in the wrong message compared to stale brick and mortar stores that are being run out of business by the regulations and taxes. For a parallel, look at Soviet Union's NEP (New Economic Policy) instituted by Lenin in the 1920's due to Bolshevik-created famine. Within a year the country was full of food; withing a couple of years the farmers were being executed because, as long as they were producing, capitalism was thriving and communism was dying. The Soviets would not have used such drastic measures if they had the IRS, USDA, OSHA, EPA...

I wonder if any of the vendors give cash. They could sell 20 bucks in goods and give 20 in cash.

Reference "how many are of the mind set that if I have to pay then so should they attitude....which is wrong". How do you feel about the concept that government people don't have to obey the laws anymore and we, the little people, do? Those fees you have to pay are there to support the bureaucracy, without those fees the bureaucracy could not exist. Hmmm...without them they would have to go out and get some kind of real job and maybe even do something productive for society.

Hmmm.. How important it is for us to vote, as long as we know what we are voting for. We need to continue to spread the word and help our brethren make the right decisions in the next few elections. Start the with the totally ignorant ones first, the others are too far gone.

That extra money comes from government grants that activists running your market applied for. They are an extension of food stamps, so, yes, we all subsidize them. The farmer is happy because he gets more money that day, but it comes out of his constantly increasing taxes (and all of us) so, really, the only beneficiary is the parasite that gets the food stamps (EBT now) and the activists that keep part of the grant (just another form of parasites).

Too many of them think that there is no commerce outside of government enabled commerce... Deep Web/Darknet must blow their minds.

Actually, the cross represents the union between the soul and body. No more "soul-body dichotomy".
Objectivism IS what Christianity is supposed to be...without all of the "religious/Catholic/self-debasing" dogma: A philosophy of respect for yourself and others.

All under the veil of trying to protect us. I don't think politicians can look at money changing hands without wanting a piece of it.

I agree with your sentiments. When interest developed over a Farmers market in our Town I advocated for keeping government out of it, there was nothing stopping from these venders from getting together, selecting a day and time, advertising and showing up to sell. Unfortunately the Town government went the other way, passing ordinances, collecting fees, setting rules, messing the whole thing up and I am sure discouraging many useful vendors so we end up with the professional hucksters selling crap not the guy coming off the farm for a couple hours to sell his products.

and the wicked sins hidden within...

It's hard for anyone to stay under the radar for too long.

I often wonder why these regs get started. I don't remember hearing pony ride horror stories when I was a kid.

Nope. In the city center not a church parking lot.

Thanks Jerry. Sounds like your Farmers Market is as regulated as my brick and mortar store. I doubt that it will change.

Well I do sell at a Farmer's Market (FM). Fresh from the farm produce. I would like to share a couple of points. Farmer's Markets vary greatly from locality to locality, state to state (interpretation- government intrusion, at all levels). At our FM you must pay a daily stall fee and you must collect and file taxes. You must also have a business license, otherwise you can't "play". As far as accepting EBT (which I have to take to participate in the Farmer's market). It is matched by, you guessed it.... a government grant. And collecting my EBT funds Well I have to wait for the operator of the FM to send me a check couple weeks AFTER the actual transaction.
I too agree that any government has no business meddling in private transactions of ANY kind. As someone said earlier in the thread. The real fight is with the government/agencies that are "trying to protect us from ourselves". Not merchant against merchant. Free enterprise should be just that.

The fees do add up. Most people I think look at them individually and don't realize how many there are. We pay 40.00 a year to sell plant material. The first couple of years an inspector stopped and looked at stuff. We haven't seen anyone for years. This year we forgot to send our check in and tah-dah...and inspector showed up.

I hear the same you. Most people say that the markets should pay their share. These fees are just hidden taxes that are enacted by governmental departments without legislative action. (taxation without representation) Every year I have to pay fees, just because I own a business. I get absolutely nothing for it and I do not believe it does anything for the public either. Just a fee that is all. I hear the same about hotel taxes. Some communities enact it on the premise of making the visitors pay. Then other communities enact it to level the playing field. They keep adding nickle & dime fees but they add up to a hug sum of money that gets spent with little or no oversight. These fees should all go away.

Good point Ron. Rather than go after the markets just tax the source. Government always finds a way.

I believe the government has realized how difficult a moving location is to tax and through the EPA the farmer will now begin paying his fair share. With the changes to the clean air and clean water acts there will now be fees for water usage, fees for cattle flatulence, fees for grazing plans (on your own land), fees for creating dust, fees for run off (even if it is rain) and $37,500.00 per day, per violation for those who chose to resist. It's only fair. For far too long farmers have not spread the wealth. Additionally, these fee will really be a thinly veiled value added tax, since each station in the market chain will mark up the prince and pass it along. And their profits must be taxed. It's the only way the collective can have equal results.

The true purpose of regulation is to protect the Big Boys from competitors who otherwise would undersell them with ridiculous ease. And to protect the Boyles from the Reardens.

I have been asked to provide pony rides at a local Farmers Market, but have declined because of the red tape involved. It's held on county-owned property, and it seems there are always a few people concerned about the evil radiation that emanates from horses. Or that it's unfair to the horses to ask them to work.

Sheesh, why do we have any civilization at all? Horses, horses, horses! Somewhere around 10,000 years ago some brave soul discovered that horses could do more than be meat. The rest, including the wheel, is pre-history.

Hello richrobinson,
I agree with LS. Brick and mortar operations should not have to fear these types of operations. If over-regulation and taxation were removed from your burden, your permanent establishment and the inherent benefits would provide adequate protection in the marketplace.
As far as the music goes: you keep playing whatever you like. It takes all kinds and I like all kinds, as long as it is good.
Here are a couple of my favorites that have similar subject matter; both from people of my acquaintance.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OD-I_CU2...

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fw0GiDHX...

I hope you enjoy them.
Regards,
O.A.

Well business property taxes are assessed on sq footage and equipment? It's true those fees would not apply. But I 'd be quite surprised if the city was not regulating the market in some way.

Cash only. That would be great.

Exactly. I do get tired of being reminded of Watergate. It seems tame by todays standard.

There is a huge disconnect for many people. They choose not to think.