Human Service Cartels: The Soft Repression of the Mediocracy

Abstract

Since the Progressive Era, professions have established cartels, allegedly to advance public wellbeing. Mental health, public welfare, and children’s services document damage to citizens even as the professions serving vulnerable populations have flourished. Abetted by civil service requirements, state licensing, university training programs, and accreditation, human service cartels have been immune from public accountability. Yet, economic destabilization has worsened the plight of the working- and welfare-poor, groups dependent on professionals to address stress attributed to the deteriorating circumstances of non-college educated workers. Thus, professionalization has been associated with rising ethno-nationalism. Corrections to professional cartels include evidence-based programming and more rigorous accreditation reform.