I just now poked my nose into a debate on attempts by the EU to introduce regulations over how airlines (in particular budget lines) display their costs. The current practice being to display a low price to entice the customer, and to then add on 'surcharges', 'supplements' and 'airport taxes'.

My immediate reaction was 'great'. It'll save an absolute age looking around at prices to see who is adding on the most in surcharges etc. Everyone can see the final price they'll pay straight away, and the competition between service providers will ultimately push down the average price of a flight.

I was quite interested to note that the majority of individuals discussing this issue did not share my point of view. It is seen by many as an attempt by the EU 'nanny state' to protect idiots from paying too much because they don't know how to search for the best deals. The supposed stupidity of such people allows for the airlines to offer the subsidised 'deals' these people then search for and find themselves.

This is intriguing for a number of reasons. Firstly, because it immediately points to the amount of choleric bile people are willing to hurl at the aggregated European government that is always trying to please everyone by pissing most of us off. I should point out that I don't particularly despise the EU. It's a great concept, but ruled primarily by P.C. drones doing an overzealous job of protecting the weak. It has taken it's role as a nanny state simply because Europe is too diverse to function together in any other way bar outright tyranny. The fact that I would choose the tyranny any day of the week is for debate some other time.

Ultimately, these operators are using their legally protected right to offer an 'invitation to treat' to all comers, an offer of a product at a price to which it has no obligation to match on request. They're playing the game by the rules, so the EU is going to change them, for the greater good. Fair enough, but the consequences of this can be far-reaching. Thinking about it from the perspective of business law, this effort by the EU alters the fundaments of what constitutes a valid contract for any transaction.

But that's boring, and I don't really want to talk about that. Of far greater interest is the willingness of the people in this debate to take advantage of the ignorance of others. People are paying over the top for their flights. The reaction? Let them, it makes mine cheaper. So much for love thy neighbour. Has humanity fallen so far that we're reduced to scrambling for the best deal at the cost of everyone around us?

For a race that has lost all natural ability to genetically breed out weakness, we are now fighting for our right to demonstrate our superiority not in terms of the genes we are no longer capable of exorcising, but instead in the cut-throat world of commercial acumen.

It is a strong reminder that competitiveness is bred into our very fabric to such an extent that it could never have been bred out anyway, an act that is now absolutely and fundamentally impossible. Despite this, we are forced to continue breeding genetic weakness and disease as a part of our DNA, because it is politically correct to do so. The doom of humanity is thus not only a distinct possibility, it is ultimately assured.

And all that from plane tickets. I'm such a fucking genius.

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