D.C. Taxi Heist
Reason.tv's Nick Gillespie on how D.C. is trying to make free enterprise less free. Medallion systems are a racket that force cab drivers to rent their cars from politically connected companies, taking the cab drivers' money and forcing them to become workers instead of owners:
Of course the guy behind the bill is a taxi company magnate. Crackhead former mayor and current D.C. council member Marion Barry is also behind the bill. Medallions will cost $10K.
Typical: crackhead former mayor and a corporate sc*mbag conspire to turn their competitors into indentured servants to pay off the medallions.
Typical corporate-government conspiracy.
mpetrie98 at July 7, 2011 10:14 AM
c'mon, it's the Chicago way. You practically have to be born into a medallion there... same with NYC IIRC.
SwissArmyD at July 7, 2011 10:27 AM
Well, what's fair?
A thousand taxis with no inspections?
Not that the program is administered correctly now...
...but finding out where the medallion money is going probably ought to come first.
Radwaste at July 7, 2011 3:10 PM
They can do an inspection system like PA. Just do it quarterly.
But that is still government in private transactions.
Jim P. at July 7, 2011 10:40 PM
My question would be to ask how many of those gentlemen (living in DC of course) voted for Marion Barry and the council-man who introduced that bill.
As for inspections- Assuming the drivers have to get a taxi-stamp (or similar) on their license in order to operate as a taxi, getting an inspection if easy- no inspection, no stamp. For those living in VA/MD, a valid state inspection of the car would suffice, for those in DC, a valid city inspection. No need for a medallion system with regards to the car.
For the drivers- they already have their DL, so as long as they are obeying traffic laws, who cares?
ChristopherD at July 9, 2011 10:17 AM
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