PB, in a perfect world where everyone over the age of 18 actually behaved like an adult that philosophy would be just fine. However, in this Oprah-fied world of ours where unhappiness is treated as a disease instead of part of the human condition, people have developed the attitude that "whatever I WANT to do is my Constitutional RIGHT to do."
Case in point...cell phones on the airplane. Until a year or so ago, cell phones were supposed to be turned off when the seat belt sign came on during boarding--usually 10 minutes prior to scheduled departure. So, these people that
know that the world and their company would collapse if they were not in actual contact 24 hours a day decided that they could continue using their phone until the door closed OR they got caught by the f/a. (Just because you have your cell phone covered with both hands and your face turned to the window does not mean you or your activities are invisible to the f/a.
)
Now, that they allow cell phone use until the door closes, those same people have decided that they can continue using their phones until a)the a/c starts moving, b)the a/c leaves the ground, c)you finish that last 3 text messages that you HAVE to send, or d) the flight attendant catches you with your phone still on and in use.
Your Libertarian view automatically results in Anarchy simply because the majority of people in this world are convinced that the rules do not apply to them, or they don't have to follow any rule they don't understand or like. When I tell someone their cell phone/MP3 player/DVD/laptop has to be turned off, at least 50% of the time the response is, "Why?" Or, they want to argue that if their phone is in airplane mode, they don't have to turn it off. (Yes, they do. If you want to argue this point, take it up with the FAA and the FCC. They didn't discuss it with me before they made the rule.) Understand I don't mean you personally. I'm using the rhetorical you.
Even though you KNOW for a fact that
your cell phone won't interfere with the a/c electronics, I'm not willing to let you risk my life and the lives of the rest of the passengers on the possibility that you might be wrong. When the FAA and the FCC promulgate a rule that your cell phone is ok to stay on, then it's ok with me.
