The United Airline assault on a passenger is just another symptom of authoritarianism

[athena]

93. Like a theater? Or a hotel?

You mean, for example, that after you've bought a ticket to see a play, if you go and sit in your assigned seat, the management can force you to leave because, say, a relative of the owner of the building decided to visit, and they think it's more important for the relative to see the show than for you to see the play you paid to see?

Or how about a hotel? Say you booked a room in a hotel and paid for it. You check into your room, unpack your bags, and lie on the bed to relax, when the owner of the hotel barges in and forces you out of the room. It turns out the guy's children decided to pay him a visit, and they need a place to stay. The twist? You don't even get your money back, and all the other hotels are booked. It is, after all, a private establishment, and the owner is under no obligation to let you stay there!

Or say you bought a car and paid for it. One day, you're at home, having breakfast, when the dealer shows up with a key to your car and gets in. The reason? The dealer's car broke down, and he needs to get to work. You say you paid for the car? Tough luck. He'll give you a $2,000 voucher you can use to buy another car from him. The problem is, he doesn't sell any car for less than $17,000, and you have to buy the car during the first week of next May; otherwise the voucher is worthless.

Sorry, but that is not the kind of world most of us want to live in.