Canada Forces Airlines to Give Out Free Seats to Fat People
Canada's airlines have been forced by the government to give free extra seats to fat people who can't fit in one seat.
As expected:
The transportation agency estimated that it would cost Air Canada an additional $7.1 million annually to change its rules and WestJet an extra $1.5 million, adding 77 cents to each ticket sold by Air Canada and 44 cents for a WestJet fare.
The carriers have predicted that their costs would be significantly more because the policy would be abused.
So the government is taking the money that the fat people have the responsibility of paying, and dividing it up among the airlines and all of its passengers. Nothing against fat people - but that sound a lot like "spreading the wealth."
How much sicker can government policies get? Why can they not allow the free market to operate, well, freely?
What first world governments seem to understand less and less is that they derive power from the people. This means that just like an individual cannot force a business to give him a free extra seat, the government should not be able to do so either.
What's next? Movie theaters? Car seats? Are governments reaching the point where they allow no individual responsibility whatsoever?
Just yesterday I wrote about irrational government bans on both sides of the Atlantic, which prove to be nothing but counterproductive nannyism. When will it stop?
Paul Ibrahim
in Big Government, Free Market, Political Correctness
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Reader Comments (4)
Typical heartless conservatives. This is about disability, and obesity--no matter people's personal opinions about it--is a disability. Why should a disabled person be forced to pay extra for comfort, when a non-disabled person doesn't have to? That's life to you conservatives. That's why we need government to act on the behalf of the people. If we can make things better, why not? If we can be better people, why not? Because it's not profitable? Because you feel individual responsibility is threatened? Shove it.
They have a choice. No one is forcing them to fly.
Ms. Chin:
Although in rare cases obesity is caused by glandular malfunction, it's far more often the result of a person's behavior:
Too much food, not enough exercise.
While it's irresistable to the Left to classify nearly anything as a disability, trying to make eating too many Oreos society's responsibility is a huge stretch--pardon the pun--except to radical liberals.
"Typical...conservatives" believe in personal responsibility. We believe in personal freedom. We don't give a rat's rectum if you eat too much. Or smoke. Or drive without a seatbelt. Just be Man enough to take the consequences. Which, in this case, means paying for the extra room.
When I buy an airline ticket, I'm purchasing the transportation from Point A to Point B, in a specific, finite space: armrest to armrest in Seat 17-C.
When Mr. Too-Many-Twinkies sits in 17-B, and takes up half of the space I paid for, is that OK? Or does "fairness" only extend in one direction to you?
The world is full of responsible disabled people who do what is necessary for their own well-being, without being baby-sat by the government. They have our undying support and admiration.
By the way, your anger is so palpable I fear that Paul's article hits a little close to home. Perhaps an occassional walk and a salad are in order.
When I buy an airline ticket, I'm purchasing the transportation from Point A to Point B, in a specific, finite space: armrest to armrest in Seat 17-C.
When Mr. Too-Many-Twinkies sits in 17-B, and takes up half of the space I paid for, is that OK? Or does "fairness" only extend in one direction to you?
See, Mr. Too-Many-Twinkies won't be bothering you or taking up your paid for space because he will now be given a free extra seat. See how that works?
By the way, your anger is so palpable I fear that Paul's article hits a little close to home. Perhaps an occassional [sic] walk and a salad are in order.
Ah, insults--about the only thing you conservatives have left these days.