bang on

your first two paragraphs are absolutely bang on and I agree completely, but there are those out there who are just so much in debt and simply cannot make a living without getting involved in less savoury prof practices.
Its totally wrong but they are having a serious struggle. The fact is and its been stated here hundreds of times that the profession just cannot compete with the wholesale 'foot care ' thats going on- we don't own procedures we were taught -anybody can have a go.we are not a closed profession.

A lot rests on the training establishment and it should be hammered home to students that there are very few decent jobs out there and thats what new grads need to get started and to clear some debt.
They dont need private practice which should only ever be an option not a necessity.

Im not sure joining the federation is going to make much difference to anybody.