The Federal Trade Commission is currently embarked on a regulatory program that could render the combined effect of all of its prior activity insignficant by comparison. Through the use of recently activated trade regulation rule power the Commission is boldly reaching out to preempt state laws and regulations that inhibit, in a variety of ways. the operation of the competitive market. Already under attack are restrictions on prescription drug price advertising by pharmacists and prescription eyeglass advertising by optometrists and ophthalmologists.' Soon to come under similar scrutiny are activities by veterinarians, funeral homes, appliance repair businesses, and real estate brokers.2 The Commission's approach is to mandate, through rules, federal deregulation of state activity that protects selected businesses and professions from the vicissitudes of competition. While estimates are difficult to make, it does not seem unreasonable to predict that undoing the effect of these and similar regulatory programs would save the consumer several billion dollars in additional charges each year.3 Looked at from