Well Mr. T. you might not be that far from the truth. A level playing field might not suit you? No privilege existence and no cartel. With plate values gone and no drivers dependent on you for a living the game will be very different. You will still be in a position of advantage but for how long?
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A level playing field suits me fine as long as the games played on it are not on the lines of "it's my ball and I'm going home". Here we go again.Drivers dependent on me. Drivers don't have any free will. Cannot go from one cab to another. All drivers are in chains. What world are youliving in? The reality is that drivers have never been in a better position to negotiate with owners. Only licenced drivers can drive cabs, nobody else, so you blame me because drivers where you are haven't the balls to stand up for themselves. Where I am there are loads of cabs looking for drivers. Question - why are mine full?
Really, it depends what side of the fence you are on. If you spoke to owners in Edinburgh they would not have you believe wee need more plates but all want to see more drivers. I expect you see the problem here, a limited amount of shifts with an over supply of drivers competing for said shifts, hence higher and higher rentals. You know what’s coming next Mr. T don’t you. Licence plates have nearly doubled in 5 years just like the Private Hire, 357 in 2000 to over 800 in 2006. The local council run bus company has further exacerbated the situation increasing the number of buses diluting the work base even further. Taxi profits fall but rentals and plate premiums go up. Strange don’t you think Mr T? As for drivers not having “the balls” you could be right but that’s the difference between you and me I don’t look for an unfair advantage. Where would you be or the owners in Edinburgh for that matter without the council run Cartel wiping your nose?
Yes some might want to live out their lives in abject servility but some will be up for the challenge. All the cheap labour coming into the country has to go somewhere? I am sure you know where it’s going to end up. If qualified hack drivers intend to remain in the trade they have no choice but to fight to shape it. In a few years there will be nothing left to fight for.
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Cab drivers standing together to fight? Don't make me laugh. They are all too busy looking after themselves. Standing together would mean they care. Most of them don't. The power this trade would have if they did care enough would be unequalled. I have been in too many battles and I know what it takes to make them move.
Yes Mr. T most are totally powerless but not because they don’t care. Servility is a state of mind. They don’t know how to care and most will try to protect the system which enslaves them. Ignorance is a debilitating disease and keeping people ignorant is what the system is all about. You said it “they are too busy looking after themselves”. Pay more work more but earn less. Not the kind of choice I would make, would you?
We give them the power Mr. T. Without the ability to drag local government before the courts a fragmented trade gives all their power away.
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You might have voted them in, I didn't. My ballot paper will always read
none of the above. I don't believe in voting for the best of a bad bunch.
No problem here, but perpetuating their program of “no choice and no control” is more than I can stand. This is why I’m sitting here studying my ass off.
The fleet owners.
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Hackney and private hire. Some are good and some are bad.
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Aye, I think we're not that far apart either, except I learnt that
swearing does me no favours.......Mr T.. rant finish
You are probably right but do I give a sh**?
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Right again!
Obviously that's up to you. Personally I give people the respect that I
expect to get from them. mr T....
Personally Mr. T respect has to be earned and not given until it’s earned. If you don’t mind me saying not that I care if you do, I don’t think its respect that you give. I hope I don’t sound patronising Mr. T 
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