Let them take it out

of the tips that they under report.

I guess the Taxi-drivers & owners

mosque on 29th street& Broadway is gonna

have a hat outside for alms.

Yes I was talking about China. I actually forgot that India has over a billion now too. Although I believe that China's modernization and development is happening at a much faster pace right now comparably.

"The U.S. has a lot of oil stockpiled from what I've heard.."

About 1.7 billion barrels. This Strategic Reserve is mainly intended as a buffer in case of either an embargo such as the 1973 Arab Oil Embargo, or a national defense emergency. Neither case applies in the present oil price crisis, and 1.7 billion barrels wouldn't affect prices at the pump much anyway. The cabbies should get something to relieve their strain but their passengers should get a Bill of Rights to go with it. "No more riding up on sidewalks" would be a good start...

Which country with a billion people that is developing a middle class are you talking about?

I assume he/she was talking about China.

Which country with a billion people that is developing a middle class are you talking about?

The U.S. has a lot of oil stockpiled from what I've heard but they are just sitting on it for...?

To make sure our currency is further used in the exchange of all oil sales. It's what keeps our weak dollar afloat, and is the reason why we went into Iraq and tried to overthrow Chavez.

When oil is traded in the Euro or another currency, people will see what many are already seeing: Our dollar is essentially worthless.

Raising the rates marginally is not going to make more people ride the subway but I totally agree that the MTA is doing a horrible job. If the subways ran up to there full potential then the price of cabs would be a lesser issue as would driving congestion in the city.

Not only has demand for oil increased in the rest of the world (can you say "a country with a billion people is developing a middle class?"), but future speculation on oil prices is screwing with the current sales. The U.S. has a lot of oil stockpiled from what I've heard but they are just sitting on it for...?

Well chips, your partly right in that a cab drivers job is similar to some sales positions, but cabbies will never have an opportunity to make $250 commission.

I'm not trying to make anyone feel bad about the cabbie's situation. Sympathy is different than pity. I am trying to bring attention to some peoples unreasonable attitudes towards priveleged services. We still enjoy a highly affordable lifestyle in this country compared to other places yet you give somebody a chance to gripe about another dollar out of their pocket and the flood gates open.

While demand has dropped in America, it has still risen worldwide.

Look if we raise rates then people will be forced to use the MTA... which is only to get worst as its totally mismanaged!!!!

The waiter analogy is not perfectly parallel to the cabbie situation but the idea is that in both situations it's the pure hustle that provides your living. You don't have a paycheck or any security and your indebted to your employer simply because they are giving you the opportunity to make money.

This is also true of most sales jobs from the people who stand on the corner trying to get you to come into their store while wearing a sandwich board, to cell phone kiosks in the mall, to a pharma sales guy making $250M.

My issue with your first post was that we should feel bad because they're being exploited. Hey, it's a tougher job than most but that doesn't necessarily mean they're being exploited.

The waiter analogy is not perfectly parallel to the cabbie situation but the idea is that in both situations it's the pure hustle that provides your living. You don't have a paycheck or any security and your indebted to your employer simply because they are giving you the opportunity to make money.

The cab drivers don't have a lot of opportunities to improve the there income the way the system currently is. Until all the fleets offer the hybrids they're stuck with the gas guzzling crown vics. I know that some drivers are just playing it cheap, not trying to improve their overall situation by maybe trying to afford their own car so there is that, but drivers are also responsible for the credit card fees on the new machines too.

Maybe the fairs should be raised by a percentage based on mileage instead of a flat surcharge. That would discourage the greediness of the many small rides.

Did you buy your own desk Chips? How about your work computer? Maybe they let you lease it...

I did first say that the medallion system was absurd, anti-free market, and hurts minorities.

So while I agree that our jobs are different, there are a lot of jobs where you have to invest your own capital to further your career or earn more.

Your waiter example doesn't really tie back, though. I'm confused. Because they buy a black shirt and pants, they're joblocked because of this? You could make this argument for cab drivers, which you didn't, but no one held a gun to their head.

That said, I don't favor the medallion system or any city regulation on livery service.

Gas prices are high right now not because the demand is high (it has dropped), but because of market speculation.

One of the above commenter nailed it. I found it really ironic Bloomberg doesn't want cabs to charge a surcharge but when it comes to the MTA and when they want to raise the fares he is all for it without a drop in the bucket.

Did you buy your own desk Chips? How about your work computer? Maybe they let you lease it...

If anyone has worked in the service industry you can understand what these drivers are going through. Being a cab driver or a waiter is an exploited position that, while perhaps being part of a free market system, really favors the fleet owners or restaurant owners. In both cases the server is given a position where if they work really hard and often they can counter the operating costs or in the case of the waiter the pathetic or nonexistent hourly wage and come out with enough money make a living.

While I agree that it's a tough job, there's a lot of empty rhetoric in there.

Of course the owners are always in an elevated situation with leverage. That goes for every job. I'm a desk jockey who makes more than a waiter or cab driver, but I'm "exploited" just the same by my bosses.

zodak - wow, thanks! I didn't know about that. Thank you for sharing that with me :)

If anyone has worked in the service industry you can understand what these drivers are going through. Being a cab driver or a waiter is an exploited position that, while perhaps being part of a free market system, really favors the fleet owners or restaurant owners. In both cases the server is given a position where if they work really hard and often they can counter the operating costs or in the case of the waiter the pathetic or nonexistent hourly wage and come out with enough money make a living.

It is true that some drivers are jerks and opportunistic in their own right but that's much like the snotty waiter who is rude because they hate their job. Well then some might argue, get a different job then. Guess what, part of our "precious" way of life revolves around the luxury of having the ability and privelage to be able to afford services provided by the private sector.

We're talking about a dollar here people. Buy yourself a cup of coffee instead of a triple soy carmel whatever and you can afford yourself a trip across town.

High gas prices are finally allowing other technologies like hybrid's to become more affordable. Gas prices today are high because demand is high. We can decrease demand by driving more fuel efficent vehicles, not by subsidizing gas prices. If we just keep subsidizing prices instead of actually trying to solve the root of the problem, we just keep increasing demand and keep raising gas prices. Cab drivers should adapt just like everyone else.

#38- Whoa, tinfoil starting to boil the ol' noggin there a bit?