Mr. Faraax,
I am not starting a "club" or a "union" or a "bull****" organization. I am, out of a sense of fairness, prudently waiting for the Chicago Dispatcher to publicize what I think is an important next step for those who care to do something about the City's indifference. Please read this next issue carefully. I will use, and encourage others to start using, this Cabmarket.com site for some public discourse, but, to effectively communicate with others, many leaders using many different media will be needed. Perhaps you will reconsider your self-limiting philosophy of not interacting with other cabdrivers to the extent of working together to have more power, and become more than an "Army of One" and join a unit in some way. You are correct in your analysis of previous failures, but you are wrong to conclude that all current and future efforts are futile.
I did not intend to insult you or offend you; you're post is so complex that I cannot justify addressing each and every point.
I am glad that you are a registered voter. Did you know that most people think that almost all cabdrivers are not even eligible to vote? (And that those who are, don't?) This is one reason why politicians are not more proactive with our needs. Where do you live (what Ward) and who represents you (which Alderman)? Did you vote for them or somebody else? Have you communicated to them anything about this business?
You do have control over a fare increase, you just stated that you don't want to 'waste the time' to 'cut through the red-tape' to get one. If you or I spend a few hours each week or month, or a few days each year to assist or influence the politicians in making the right decisions, and that results in an increase in our incomes, isn't that like paying ourselves for our services or time?
I know for a indisputable fact that you are paying hundreds and hundreds and hundreds of dollars more each month for gasoline, and that the general cost of living has gone up significantly. You are being paid the same rate legally allowed for your service as a cabdriver, tips included. Mr. Faraax, however much you are making now will be continually eroded by a gas price that is expected to climb, unless the politicians are given a consequence for ignoring us. Despite your sensitivities about your wife and child, I must insist that your loved ones are directly affected by just how much you are taking home. There is nothing amusing about that. If pointing this fact out angers you, look deeply into the mirror before you decide to lash out or blame me for your failure to do everything that can be done to change this situation. My house, my conscience, and my cab are all sufficiently clean.
I believe I can lead cabdrivers better than you (simply because I am trying), but to reflect your sentiments about how you will congratulate me if I am successful, let me say that I wish that you could lead cabdrivers better than me. Even better, I wish that you and I could lead cabdrivers together. It's obvious to me that you are a professional, caring cabdriver. Most of us are.
I am going to ignore your comments about leasing vs. owning, not necessarily because I agree or disagree with you, but because the price and problem of gasoline is the same in both cases. Leasing vs. owning is a much less important discussion right now.
The truth is, I have experienced the satifaction of removing a prominent politician from office, by doing a lot more than just casting my lone vote. We cabdrivers have that same collective ability. I have been publicly elected to a ward committeman post for, and have been employed by, the Democrats. I have met with politicians of every stripe and I have a good idea of what makes them tic. What would you pledge to do to support an Alderman who supports a fare increase (besides making sure you wait in the line to get your meter adjusted)?
I intend to drive a cab for many, many years to come. I don't have children of my own (that I know of), but I would be an irresponsible elder cousin to instruct my baby cousins to simply rely on themselves and not work together with others to meet common goals, like ensuring the health of their chosen profession.
Lead, follow, or get out of the way.
We can unite, we must unite, we will unite.
You can't stop us.
-MIKE FOULKS
If Faarax J is "irresponsible" then we all are.
Right on brother Faarax.
I know you know the difference between "discourse" and what happens on this blog.
Cheeses! Give a guy a keyboard and an internet hook-up and what happens? Some just run hog wild AND BLOG BEFORE THEY THINK. (OK, me too.)
Before "http//www.something dot com," we used to refer to such "discourse" as "Diarrhea of the mouth...."
Don't take Ted to heart.
And don't give credence to male bovine species feces found in profusion herein.
Bless you and your family, sir.
