[Alberta's Child]

The author would have more credibility if the points he made had any relevance to the issue at hand. For example:

And, it's home to Airbnb, a company that came into existence to solve the housing shortage crisis by connecting homeowners who are willing to rent out a room with strangers who need a place to stay.

What the heck does Airbnb have to do with solving a "housing shortage crisis" at all? It's an informal system of hotel rooms that is connected through an online booking system.

I'm no fan of an overbearing nanny-state, but the regulation of this kind of informal renting arrangement like this is rooted in a legitimate public interest. Zoning laws, for example, are specifically aimed at keeping people from treating their homes as "their own castles" to protect their neighbors from nuisances that threaten their "own castles."

Let's look at his comparison to Marriott and turn this issue around. If a homeowner has a right to do what he wants with his own property, then this would logically mean that Marriott has the right to buy apartment buildings, condominium developments, etc. and turn them into hotels -- or even resident drug treatment facilities or "halfway houses" for paroled prisoners -- without any government approval at all.

How many homeowners -- including those who are Airbnb partners -- would ever stand for that sort of thing?

[RKBA Democrat]

I guess your argument then is that the wise and benevolent government is better situated to control these things. Because,well, they’ve done such a great job to date. And they’re not subject to bribery, incompetence, sloth, stupidity, and other attendant evils.

Then you have these companies who have no small investment in satisfying their customer base and being allowed to continue their business by acting responsibly. But they’re not capable of adjusting their business model and procedures to deal with problems as they occur. Because only governments can do that in their infinite wisdom and benevolence.

Am I understanding the argument correctly?

[Daffy]

“— without any government approval at all.”

Sounds OK to me.

[BigBobber]

or even resident drug treatment facilities or "halfway houses" for paroled prisoners -- without any government approval at all.

Huh? The government is doing that to us right now - and we have no say in the matter.

Freedonm is not as bad as you think. We should give it a try.

[Lurker]

Liberty really frightens you.

L

[achilles2000]

I would stand for it. It is disheartening to see how many “conservatives” still engage in magical thinking regarding the state.