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RUMOURS AND DEMOCRACY
Rumours have long been the lifeblood of the licensed taxi trade! Where
would we be without the odd bit of malicious gossip linking two of the
most unlikeliest protagonists possible? Many of the best
rumours have provided the humour to keep us warm in the winter!
Of course rumours can also cause tremendous upset to those
mentioned in them, especially when those who start them don't even
bother to make even a quick check on the likelihood of the rumour
having any truth to them.
I've had a fair share of rumours attributed to me in the
past - especially since becoming Editor - but I can't think of one
occasion when they have upset me. The occasional rumour may have
irritated me, but really upset? Not that I can remember...
"Ok," you say, "he's leading up to a few
really malicious rumours that have suddenly upset him." And
of course, you'd be partly right, but probably not for the
correct reasons...
I am a great believer in democracy. Within the boundaries
that I have set myself, I believe that Call Sign is the most
democratic magazine in the taxi trade. There is certainly no radio taxi
magazine that allows drivers to write in with suggestions or criticism
and then get a printed reply. In fact, several years back, a leading
light in another radio organisation asked that I be sacked because of
the way Call Sign operated in giving DaC drivers their say. I'm still
here because fortunately, the BoM at Dial-a-Cab also believe in
democracy.
So let's return to the rumour mill and churn out two of
the most popular involving DaC. The first involves the posters that
sprung up at all the exits to the mainline stations proclaiming
"Dial-a-Cab: No PLC - No Debate." I have no knowledge
of the person whose life must be so empty that he/she has nothing
better to do than waste his/her time writing and sticking up posters everywhere. In fact I would not be at all |
surprised to find
out that those behind it are not even on Dial-a-Cab.
After all, any DaC subscriber wanting that information would only have to
phone the office, speak to a Board Member and ask if the PLC debate is to
be resurrected at the AGM. They would have been told "no"
because at the closing date for propositions and rule changes, not one of
either had been received which means that not only will there be no PLC
debate, but this will probably be the shortest AGM in ODRTS history!
But one thing worries me and has helped me make my mind up that the writer
is not with this organisation. The BoM through Brian Rice announced when
the previous vote fell, that the Board would not bring up the topic again
unless specifically asked to by a subscriber (ie via propositions/rule
changes). As there are no propositions or rule changes, it won't happen.
But the poster writer is such a firm believer in democracy that he/she
specifically states "No Discussion!" How democratic
of the writer. They don't want it so no one else must even discuss it! I
also wonder what our many clients that use mainline stations and see these
posters, actually think of them - and then us?
I've seen other posters at various stations proclaiming the
"achievements" of a trade organisation in the Covent Garden area
that made me wonder whether there is a connection?
ithout wishing to start a rumour (!!!), that particular trade
organisation are not famous for their democratic convictions and their
magazine does have the odd snipe at DaC (only fair because I would do the same if I thought it
warranted it). They also don't
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believe that anyone other than their own
leader should speak about the recent tariff increase. If you're writing one
poster, how long does it take to write another? Democratic? Isn't that where
I came in...?
On to the second rumour: Brian Rice made EC5 'physical' because the coffee
stall gave him £3000...! This is where the rumour goes a bit awry because
others suggest that the 'bait' was in fact 3 doughnuts a day for a year!
Brian vehemently denies either accusation - although he admitted that he
might have been tempted had it been cheese and pickle in French bread for a
year! There's more mileage in that rumour yet!
HAPPY NEW YEAR OR WHATEVER
Or whatever...? Well it is only December 12th and I'm already writing an
Editorial. Usually that "honour" is reserved until at least the
20th of the month, but as we all know and appreciate (!!!) everything stops
for Christmas and the New Year. In my case, "everything" equals
the printers!
So, the plan is for me to somehow get this issue ready in
around 10 days, to the printers by Tuesday 18th December and then posted by
Friday 21st. Everything else that happens will be down to the power of
prayer!
Call Sign is scheduled for publication on the first of the
month, so January 1st is this issues official release date. But if previous
years are anything to go by, then you might get this issue on the 24th
December or if things really do go as per plan at Ensignia or whatever they
call the Post Office nowadays, then mid-January is more likely!
But regardless of when you get it, I'd like to wish each and every one of
you the happiest of New Years and the hope that 2002 will bring you
everything your heart desires with the best of health on top of the list.
A very, very Happy New Year to you all...
Alan Fisher |
