4 ms·

Saying that you've had bad experiences with regulated taxis is not a counter argument. For all six of those, there is a number you can call to report them. And

by tghw 14y ago

Saying that you've had bad experiences with regulated taxis is not a counter argument. For all six of those, there is a number you can call to report them. And none of them are all that bad. Get into an unregulated taxi, and you're at their mercy.

mseebach 14y ago
Yes, it's a good argument. It shows how the regulation that ostensibly was set up to protect customers does not consistently do that. And what am I going to do with a phone number? Spend 20 minutes on hold before I can tell a disinterested minimum wage call center employee about how my would-have-been $50 missing taxi caused me to miss my $1500 flight so it's recorded in some log that nobody ever reads? The fact that some people might accept the service-failures listed by the GP as not being bad just shows how low expectations to taxies has become. Luckily some people believe taxies can do better. Finally, all but the stauchest libertarians would accept a sensible minimum of regulation that would provide a minimum of protection, including mandatory insurance and conspicuous display of photo ID inside the vehicle.
- tghw 14y ago
  You haven't been ripped off by an unlicensed cab before, have you? The licensed cabs operate in a manner that will at least keep them from having their medallion taken away. Unlicensed cabs have nothing to fear.
  - mseebach 14y ago
    No. I don't ride in unlicensed cabs. That doesn't keep me from wanting significantly less regulation. I have been ripped off by licensed ones, though - twice, I think. Both cases involved foreign counties and drivers who conveniently and suddenly lost their command of English.
    - tghw 14y ago
      Like I said, being ripped off by licensed cabs isn't an argument for less regulation. It's an argument for something else, possibly more regulation. Show me that cabs don't need licensing and regulation using unlicensed cabs as an example, and you'll have an argument.
      - mseebach 14y ago
        Uhm, I wasn't giving a counter argument. I was replying to your question. What you want to do with that is up to you. Any demonstration in the vein you propose will rely on a measure of caveat emptor. I would guess I am willing to accept a greater degree of this (trading strict consumer protection for better competition leading to better service and lower prices) than you seem to be.
nmcfarl 14y ago
Have you ever done that? Does it work? I’ve always been to flustered to get a medallion number when things are going south. And I always figured that it didn’t matter anyhow.

by tghw 14y ago

mseebach 14y ago

Yes, it's a good argument. It shows how the regulation that ostensibly was set up to protect customers does not consistently do that. And what am I going to do with a phone number? Spend 20 minutes on hold before I can tell a disinterested minimum wage call center employee about how my would-have-been $50 missing taxi caused me to miss my $1500 flight so it's recorded in some log that nobody ever reads? The fact that some people might accept the service-failures listed by the GP as not being bad just shows how low expectations to taxies has become. Luckily some people believe taxies can do better. Finally, all but the stauchest libertarians would accept a sensible minimum of regulation that would provide a minimum of protection, including mandatory insurance and conspicuous display of photo ID inside the vehicle.

tghw 14y ago
You haven't been ripped off by an unlicensed cab before, have you? The licensed cabs operate in a manner that will at least keep them from having their medallion taken away. Unlicensed cabs have nothing to fear.
- mseebach 14y ago
  No. I don't ride in unlicensed cabs. That doesn't keep me from wanting significantly less regulation. I have been ripped off by licensed ones, though - twice, I think. Both cases involved foreign counties and drivers who conveniently and suddenly lost their command of English.
  - tghw 14y ago
    Like I said, being ripped off by licensed cabs isn't an argument for less regulation. It's an argument for something else, possibly more regulation. Show me that cabs don't need licensing and regulation using unlicensed cabs as an example, and you'll have an argument.
    - mseebach 14y ago
      Uhm, I wasn't giving a counter argument. I was replying to your question. What you want to do with that is up to you. Any demonstration in the vein you propose will rely on a measure of caveat emptor. I would guess I am willing to accept a greater degree of this (trading strict consumer protection for better competition leading to better service and lower prices) than you seem to be.

nmcfarl 14y ago

Have you ever done that? Does it work? I’ve always been to flustered to get a medallion number when things are going south. And I always figured that it didn’t matter anyhow.