November 14, 2008, 11:22:27 AM by Robert_Moriyama
I seem to recall reading articles indicating that in some cases, diplomas were withheld because graduating students had outstanding fees (maybe as trivial as library fines)... In Ontario, a new toll highway was built with public money then sold to a private company for a fraction of the construction cost (on the condition that the company would continue to maintain and expand the highway -- which it has done, while jacking up the tolls (mainly by extending the higher-cost "peak hours" pricing to cover most of the day)). The fun part of the contract was that it obligated the government to withhold license plate renewal stickers if vehicle owners had unpaid tolls!
I think it more likely that a college or university would send a notice to a student approaching graduation that his/her degree would be withheld unless outstanding tuition or other fees were paid than that they would revoke a degree already granted. Of course, corporations (and formerly "public" institutions are expected to behave like private corporations these days) follow the "if you make a mistake, you will be penalized; if we make a mistake -- you will be penalized" system, so... (viz. banks, the Big Three automakers, etc.)
Now imagine the ultimate expression of this principle: new parents fail to pay the bill for delivery of their child, and... (There's a story in there -- any takers?)
You can't wait for inspiration. You have to go after it with a club.
Jack London (1876-1916)