The strategy of being obstructionist can work or fail -- and so far it's working against the taxi workers rights movement, us, yes all of us, insiders and outsiders and interested parties, alike.
It's certainly true, if not terribly insightful, that obstructionism can either work or fail.
When it "works," it's because the City obstructed things that drivers and owners didn't want in the first place -- like inspection by appointment, for example.
When it "fails," it's because drivers and owners, insiders and interested parties obstructed things that drivers and owners, insiders and interested parties want their government to do.
What have the City, drivers and owners, insiders and interested parties obstructed this year? Here's just a partial list:
-- Ending the disastrous requirement that drivers “prove” they need a raise when the whole world is screaming higher costs, higher costs, and higher costs.
-- Providing health insurance (through taxi generated revenues) to thousands of under insured and uninsured drivers and owners who can’t afford it on their “profits.”
-- Empowering drivers and owners to take a real active, participatory role in the decision making that effects their income and their chances of success.
-- Taking away the medallion auction handouts to Big Money that resulted in artificially jacked up medallion “street value” prices.
-- Re-instituting the medallion lottery for senior career drivers.
-- Investing taxi-generated revenue in a retirement benefits program for drivers and owners.
-- Making it easier for taxi workers to join unions or representative organizations to serve in their interests.
-- Investing more in training new drivers and in continuing education.
Is obstructing all of those unpopular issues working for the City, drivers and owners, insiders and interested parties?
Here's the approval rating for the City this year: Bravo, obstruction.
And considering that all of the above initiatives boast the welfare and well-being of the City, the drivers and the owners, the insiders and the interested parties, clearly the frustration in the streets is not what they're fighting for, but who is fighting them.
What about the customers? A happier, more secure driver with an eye on the road and the firm grip on the future is sure make customers feel good, too. Remember, tips are “feel good” gauged.
That doesn't translate into any additional support for the traditionalist's hold-to-the-status-quo obstructionists.
The only hope the obstructionists have is for the media to fail to inform the public what is being obstructed.
And since we know we can't rely on the media to tell the full story, it's up to us to spread the word.
