Why was my politics thread deleted?

Could someone please explain why this thread was deleted? It felt a bit controversial.

I'm asking this because of the recent CNN decision regarding the fine issued to those local bakeries for "forming a cartel."
I want to bring up two other groups for comparison—the Bar Association and the AARP (architects and surveyors).

Let's look at the facts.

The bakers basically made an informal agreement on pricing, which isn't even strictly binding for everyone.
Some people at the meeting didn't even agree to the terms (but they still got penalized, right?)
And honestly, most small-scale producers probably weren't even there.
Plus, the variety of baked goods is so huge these days that nobody can really keep track of those price points anyway.
How can you even call it a cartel when anyone can just bake bread at home if they wanted to?

Professional associations basically force you to join them if you want to work in the field, which means you have to follow their rules.
In this case, the association set minimum prices that feel ridiculously high.
If you aren't a member, you can't legally practice.
There's no way for a regular citizen to just do the job themselves, much like how you can just bake your own bread at home.

Take lawyers, for example. You technically have the right to represent yourself, but let's be real—that's a stretch. You’d need to be incredibly well-read and know the law inside out (and most people struggle with basic literacy these days). If you don't, you might not only fail to protect your rights even when the law is clearly on your side, but you could actually face condescension or even disrespect from "professionals" in court.
Pro bono work is usually reserved for the most extreme cases of poverty.

With architects and surveyors, you don't even have the option to "do it yourself."

So, are these professional associations actually just cartels?
I'd love to hear your thoughts or any personal experiences you've had.

If you're looking for some deep dives into politics, check this out: