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Drivers grumble, naturally, over NYC's new cabs

msnbc -- Like most New York taxi drivers, Hakan Karakas has a ready opinion on everything – especially when you ask him about the “Taxi of Tomorrow.”

“It’s like the communists have taken over,” he laments. “This is a free market, and I should be able to choose what I drive.”

But the fact is Hakkan and the rest of the Big Apple’s independent and fleet taxi owners won’t have a choice. This week they’re getting a first look at the vehicles that will replace the aging Ford Crown Victoria sedans that have long served as the majority of New York’s yellow cabs.

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Submitted Apr 06, 2012 By: Cakes77

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ObieDog Champion Author Maryland Posts:1,956 Points:847,595 Joined:Sep 2010	Message Posted: Apr 7, 2012 2:59:46 PM Ignore ObieDog Report Abuse Cranky drivers and cranky posters today.
Van_Halen Champion Author Atlanta Posts:2,839 Points:637,680 Joined:Apr 2011	Message Posted: Apr 7, 2012 2:37:17 PM Ignore Van_Halen Report Abuse . No, not in NYC, they would NEVER complain, no way!
36_ACRES_4_SALE All-Star Author Appleton Posts:999 Points:338,815 Joined:Oct 2011	Message Posted: Apr 7, 2012 1:51:03 AM Ignore 36_ACRES_4_SALE Report Abuse :)
Ahking Champion Author Orange County Posts:3,492 Points:600,445 Joined:May 2011	Message Posted: Apr 6, 2012 8:48:24 PM Ignore Ahking Report Abuse will they skip NYC when they need an exciting yellow cab chase scene?
PurplepassionNC All-Star Author North Carolina Posts:838 Points:157,310 Joined:Mar 2012	Message Posted: Apr 6, 2012 6:01:08 PM Ignore PurplepassionNC Report Abuse Maybe this new taxi will slow down the dreaded wild speed demons taxis drivers in New York. NY cabbie all give you the impression that you may lose your life if you make a move around them.
apiergallini Veteran Author North Carolina Posts:389 Points:244,255 Joined:Mar 2011	Message Posted: Apr 6, 2012 3:43:03 PM Ignore apiergallini Report Abuse @johntxx Well, I'm glad we at least agree that this isn't communism. But the defintion for socialism is very similar to the one for communism The current administration is neither. That notwithstanding, again, this is an NYC issue, not an administration issue. And the NYC issue is also neither communism nor socialism. States have the authority to regulate activities within their borders, including the licensing, certifying, and regulating of the taxi industry. Likewise with cities within their borders. Both, of course, subject to the state and federal constitutions. You may not like what NYC has done here, but the city is within its power to do so. Not that there's anything wrong with posting a link to an opinion piece within the discussions on here (as long as it's not the main article), but it's still just an opinion piece. Blumenfeld's speculation about how Soros and Obama came to interact with each other is just that - speculation. Sure, Soros "may" have liked Obama for the reasons Blumenfeld said, but it could have been any of a number of reasons. And Obama, once President, really doesn't have to do what Soros wants, or what anyone else wants, for that matter. Regarding your video, that healthcare isn't specifically mentioned in the Constitution does not mean that Congress doesn't have the power to regulate it. It's within the commerce clause, as well as in the preamble, which says, "We the People of the United States, in Order to form a more perfect Union, establish Justice, insure domestic Tranquility, provide for the common defence, PROMOTE THE GENERAL WELFARE, and secure the Blessings of Liberty to ourselves and our Posterity, do ordain and establish this Constitution for the United States of America." (emphasis added). So, regardless or your thoughts on the commerce clause, it's hard to argue that healthcare doesn't fall within the general welfare of our citizenry. I agree with both you and Judge Napolitano that the government has overstepped its bounds in some cases, the Patriot Act being one of them. However, overstepping its bounds in one instance does not imply that it is doing so in other instances, and certainly not that it is doing so in every instance. Lastly, if you're going to "point out the degradation our country has suffered with Obama at the helm" by mentioning things that have come to be during his administration over which he has no control, then you ought to also give him credit for every single thing you like which happened during his administration, regardless of whether he had any control over it, as well. You can't, on one hand, blame him for everything under the sun for the last 3.5 years, but, on the other hand, only give him credit for those things over which he had direct control. You either limit yourself, in both cases, only to things over which he had control, or you include, in both cases, things over which he had no control. You don't get to pick and choose. [Edited by: apiergallini at 4/6/2012 5:45:57 PM EST]
johntxx Champion Author Texas Posts:2,757 Points:612,320 Joined:Aug 2011	Message Posted: Apr 6, 2012 2:55:21 PM Ignore johntxx Report Abuse apiergallini, technically you are correct, we do not have a communist in the White House. He is a socialist. There is a difference, though neither philosophy aligns with our Constitution. "Soros may have read the book and decided then and there that Obama could be the next president. He was young, ambitious, a socialist, and an empty suit who could be easily controlled by a powerful enormously wealthy patron." excerpt from Obama & Soros: Puppet & Puppeteer Now as to your comment, "This is not communism, it's government regulation, and well within the purview of government regulate." The Constitution does state that "The Congress shall have the Power ... To regulate Commerce with foreign Nations, and among the several States, and with the Indian Tribes;" however, they have overstepped their bounds. Listen to Judge Napolitano Agreed, this is the city of NY, not our national government, but I'm taking every opportunity I can to point out the degradation our country has suffered with Obama at the helm. And I Hope and pray that there will be a Change in the White House after November. ABO [Edited by: johntxx at 4/6/2012 4:57:49 PM EST]
apiergallini Veteran Author North Carolina Posts:389 Points:244,255 Joined:Mar 2011	Message Posted: Apr 6, 2012 2:23:57 PM Ignore apiergallini Report Abuse @GetMaxCashBack EVs sound even better for people who have a defined distance they need to travel. It's like a FedEx delivery guy is unexpectedly going to have to travel out-of-state, unlike, say, you or me. If their routes are divided up properly, everyone should have enough range on the vehicle to do the full route, and get back to the office, with miles to spare. Hybrids, in that scenario, seem unnecessarily complicated and expensive for what they're needed to do.
GetMaxCashBack Veteran Author Trenton Posts:386 Points:161,925 Joined:Mar 2012	Message Posted: Apr 6, 2012 12:58:02 PM Ignore GetMaxCashBack Report Abuse I still don't know why they don't use hybrids for vehicles that are primarily in stop & go traffic.
apiergallini Veteran Author North Carolina Posts:389 Points:244,255 Joined:Mar 2011	Message Posted: Apr 6, 2012 11:52:25 AM Ignore apiergallini Report Abuse @johntxx Really? Get over it. This was something passed by the city - it had nothing to do with who sits in the Oval Office. Just because you don't like or agree with a policy somewhere does NOT make it communism. Stop misusing the term. In fact, communism is an economic theory wherein private property does not exist - everything is owned by the state, and all have use of it. It has the same root as community - everything is owned by the community, not individuals or corporations. This is not communism, it's government regulation, and well within the purview of government regulate.
JustDrill4Oil Veteran Author Dayton Posts:367 Points:33,505 Joined:Jul 2010	Message Posted: Apr 6, 2012 11:29:48 AM Ignore JustDrill4Oil Report Abuse Report abuse! This article has zip zero nada to do with this site.
Night Owl Champion Author Toronto Posts:7,530 Points:1,782,600 Joined:Jul 2004	Message Posted: Apr 6, 2012 11:14:41 AM Ignore Night Owl Report Abuse Sounds great. New York City taxis certainly don't need V-8 engines.
blupupher Champion Author Houston Posts:3,523 Points:743,070 Joined:Feb 2011	Message Posted: Apr 6, 2012 8:47:34 AM Ignore blupupher Report Abuse they grumble over anything.
orphancarguyPE Champion Author PEI Posts:3,821 Points:730,015 Joined:Jan 2011	Message Posted: Apr 6, 2012 8:40:15 AM Ignore orphancarguyPE Report Abuse And was anyone expecting sunshine and light comments from New York cab drivers?
jimgraham Champion Author Akron Posts:10,347 Points:1,975,035 Joined:Oct 2007	Message Posted: Apr 6, 2012 7:54:49 AM Ignore jimgraham Report Abuse They should have made them run on natural gas. Oh yeah, if they did that, the looming gasoline shortage would no be so bad.
mossimo36 Champion Author St. Louis Posts:2,640 Points:492,750 Joined:Sep 2011	Message Posted: Apr 6, 2012 7:37:19 AM Ignore mossimo36 Report Abuse lol
EricBrazil Champion Author Miami Posts:2,109 Points:467,500 Joined:Nov 2011	Message Posted: Apr 6, 2012 7:22:51 AM Ignore EricBrazil Report Abuse Alot about nothing
johntxx Champion Author Texas Posts:2,757 Points:612,320 Joined:Aug 2011	Message Posted: Apr 6, 2012 6:57:30 AM Ignore johntxx Report Abuse “It’s like the communists have taken over,” he laments. “This is a free market, and I should be able to choose what I drive.” They have. We've currently got one in the White House. They do regulate everything from the air you breath to the amount of water that comes out of your shower.
Cakes77 Champion Author Harrisburg Posts:5,140 Points:1,647,995 Joined:Aug 2006	Message Posted: Apr 6, 2012 6:48:24 AM Ignore Cakes77 Report Abuse Thanks for your nice comments folks on this article. Keep them coming!
doeslayersr Champion Author Illinois Posts:9,078 Points:867,030 Joined:Dec 2010	Message Posted: Apr 6, 2012 6:20:03 AM Ignore doeslayersr Report Abuse It is NY.
GingoutMD Champion Author Maryland Posts:3,495 Points:713,305 Joined:Jan 2010	Message Posted: Apr 6, 2012 6:17:26 AM Ignore GingoutMD Report Abuse Doesn't matter what they drive, it is still a demolition derby in Manhattan. I wonder if the new taxis come with head restraints for passengers due to the hard breaking, hard accelerating and rapid lane changes?
molebaby96 Champion Author Tallahassee Posts:2,118 Points:501,805 Joined:Nov 2011	Message Posted: Apr 6, 2012 6:14:23 AM Ignore molebaby96 Report Abuse In the story I read, the only main complaint was were they going to provide handicap ramps.
pscamp Champion Author Ottawa Posts:3,246 Points:471,660 Joined:May 2011	Message Posted: Apr 6, 2012 6:08:05 AM Ignore pscamp Report Abuse change = comunism, come on....you are nuts!
rbrk02 Champion Author Rhode Island Posts:5,713 Points:812,255 Joined:Jan 2011	Message Posted: Apr 6, 2012 6:07:13 AM Ignore rbrk02 Report Abuse Joeski1, Nice! ;) The Nissan seems OK. I would have thought they would consider the Transit Connect as well.
grandpadon28110 Champion Author Charlotte Posts:4,696 Points:1,138,310 Joined:Sep 2008	Message Posted: Apr 6, 2012 6:06:35 AM Ignore grandpadon28110 Report Abuse So what!!
wrunner Champion Author Virginia Posts:4,425 Points:1,132,585 Joined:Dec 2009	Message Posted: Apr 6, 2012 6:05:58 AM Ignore wrunner Report Abuse Change is good, but some change might be too good for some. Then again, no change might not be good either. Good change is always good, right?! Oooh, change the subject and move on.
mike1881 Champion Author Fayetteville Posts:1,275 Points:560,425 Joined:Feb 2011	Message Posted: Apr 6, 2012 5:53:55 AM Ignore mike1881 Report Abuse Who cares?
kzrooster Champion Author Kalamazoo Posts:2,360 Points:511,775 Joined:Nov 2011	Message Posted: Apr 6, 2012 5:53:08 AM Ignore kzrooster Report Abuse It's always hard to change!
Joeski1 Champion Author New Jersey Posts:9,967 Points:1,736,860 Joined:Dec 2004	Message Posted: Apr 6, 2012 5:51:07 AM Ignore Joeski1 Report Abuse when they went from the checker cabs to the crown vics they bitched too... new yorkers usually bitch about everything except their ball teams...
07skydriver Champion Author Ohio Posts:3,238 Points:978,765 Joined:Feb 2009	Message Posted: Apr 6, 2012 5:50:31 AM Ignore 07skydriver Report Abuse So what?
BBopp Champion Author Dayton Posts:6,819 Points:1,934,455 Joined:Dec 2006	Message Posted: Apr 6, 2012 5:49:43 AM Ignore BBopp Report Abuse Change is never easy. It seems to me there will be more money to be made by taxi companies, more people can fit into a "cab" now.