There Otta Be A Law...

I spend a lot of time on this blog complaining about silly government laws, and the "nanny-state" encroaching on our personal freedoms. Smokers are a huge target of over reaching government. Whenever there's a whiff of cigarette smoke in any venue that might be detected by a non-smoker, the government tries to pass a law. The general premise is that smokers do not have the right to smoke if it inhibits someone's right to breath smoke-free air.
Today I had an experience that made me question my personal rights versus the rights of someone else. A smoker did not usurp my personal rights, but my personal space was certainly violated! Yes, I had the displeasure of spending 4.5 hours in the middle coach seat of an airplane alongside an obese woman. This woman needed a seatbelt extension because the regular seat belt would not fit around her waist. She could not enter and exit her seat without moving the armrest out of the way. She could not even think about lowering the tray table. There I was, stuck next to her. Typical of my luck. People talk about the rudeness of smokers, but I would have rather sat next to Joe Camel than this woman. She had no respect for my personal space. Her arms, legs, elbows, etc. crowded my already small coach seat. And she did not care.
I don't have a problem with this woman being whatever size she wants. That's her prerogative. However, why is she allowed to fly in coach? If smokers are not allowed to smoke because it infringes on the comfort of others, why is this woman allowed to cause me discomfort? Here's my proposal for a useful rule that someone needs to institute: If the standard seatbelt does not fit, you can't fly in a single coach seat. Here are the alternatives:
1) Don't fly.
2) Buy the bigger first class seat.
3) Buy 2 coach seats.
4) Lose some weight.

I paid for a full airline seat, not 3/4 of a seat. I'm sorry, but every person cannot be accommodated in every situation. Smoking sections in restaurants went the way of the dodo because everyone realized how ridiculous it was to think that the cigarette smoke would only stay in one area. Well, allowing obese people on coach airplanes, or any other public venue with "regular" seats needs, to follow the path of the restaurant smoking section.

I fly this airline frequently. I am going to be complaining on my return trip. Stay tuned for the results of my complaint.