Fortune and education

Can somebody please explain to me why allocating limited places at oversubscribed state schools randomly denies parental choice but allocating them on the basis of who can afford a house in the right area doesn’t?

Or maybe it was decided that the purpose of state education is to make sure that Nice People Like Us can choose to avoid the vulgar rabble (who of course are perfectly happy to be dumped with other rabble – it’s all they know, bless them). Maybe I was off ill the day that was announced.