Taxicab Confessional

Yeah I know this is my second post today on the subject, but I think I can shine a little more light on what the deal is. Earlier today I caught a cab from the West Village to Murray Hill, shelling out $15 to go from one zone to the other. I found out that the steep fares are part of the contingency plan that is helping people commute better by being able to share rides to and fro in the city.

Anyways, the cabbie was very friendly with me so we got to talking about the strike. Obviously you can determine his position on the issue since he was picking up fares for the one day event. After screaming at another driver for trying to get in his lane he addressed the primary concern before he decided to cross the picket line last month.

According to him the major cause for concern wasn't the GPS trackers (he understands many other driving professionals already use it around the country) but what happens with his 1099. With the trackers in place, the fare records can go straight to the IRS and that means....you guessed it, cab drivers would be held accountable for the business they do when it came time to do taxes.

My cabbie realized that with this in effect, drivers would have to be honest with the business that they do. "Honesty, what a concept," I said sarcastically to him and we both bust out laughing.

So it isn't about being tracked to your home when not on the clock, its evading taxes. Sure, no one likes paying them but generally people look down on tax dodgers. And besides that, he loved working today because getting a $15 fare when the trip is generally $9 is part of a good day's work. As I got out of the cab, he delivered a bit of sarcasm back at me..."Next time I see you, don't expect to pay these fares."

I won't mind the fares going back to normal, not at all.

Filling The Journalistic Gaps

It has been clear that in these times, the quality of investigative journalism has deteriorated significantly. As newspapers consolidate and newsrooms become more about profit than product, the nation suffers from a lack of in-depth reporting that uncovers stories and scandals, not just PR-laded soundbites. A story like Watergate would almost be impossible to come out now, a budget would never allow for months and months of investigation without anything to show for it. The plot of Watergate is better suited for a movie script than to take place in reality these days.

However, there is a group coming together that wants to fill in the cracks that journalism has formed lately. It is a non-profit center that will have the resources to do the people's work and fulfill some semblance of the fourth estate.

From The New York Times:

The nonprofit group, called Pro Publica, will pitch each project to a newspaper or magazine (and occasionally to other media) where the group hopes the work will make the strongest impression. The plan is to do long-term projects, uncovering misdeeds in government, business and organizations.

Nothing quite like it has been attempted, and despite having a lot going for it, Pro Publica will be something of an experiment, inventing its practices by trial and error. It remains to be seen how well it can attract talent and win the cooperation of the mainstream media.

“It is the deep-dive stuff and the aggressive follow-up that is most challenged in the budget process,” said Mr. Steiger, who will be Pro Publica’s president and editor in chief. He gave up the title of managing editor of The Journal in May, but is staying on through the end of the year as editor at large; during his tenure, the newsroom won 16 Pulitzer Prizes.

Pro Publica is the creation of Herbert M. and Marion O. Sandler, the former chief executives of the Golden West Financial Corporation, based in California, which was one of the nation’s largest mortgage lenders and savings and loans. They have committed $10 million a year to the project, while various foundations have provided smaller amounts. Mr. Sandler will serve as chairman of the group, which will begin operations early next year.

Despite the skepticism in the second paragraph above in the Times, attracting true talent shouldn't be too hard. For the real journalists that are left, free reign to do actual reporting without budgetary constraints is a dream come true. As the Times itself notes, their own moron-in-chief, Bill Keller said in the article he would be willing to use the work Pro Publica puts out.

Something has to be done for the state of journalism in this country. Pro Publica seems to have a great shot at making a difference for us all.