Disabled people in taxis

[vwdan]

They have no place sticking their nose into voluntary exchanges between private businesses and private individuals.

This is an incredibly silly statement - regardless of what you think of this particular issue, this is exactly what the government does. If this were the case, there'd be barely any legislation at all around employment and business practices would there?

[Doggy Styles]

This is an incredibly silly statement - regardless of what you think of this particular issue, this is exactly what the government does. If this were the case, there'd be barely any legislation at all around employment and business practices would there?

No it's not silly.

As I understand it, SpontaneousOrder is saying that the government should not dictate that a private business must deal with a particular private customer. For one thing the losses that could cause would kill off some smaller firms.

If they want to legislate in some way, and I'm not disagreeing with it depending on the circumstances, they (i.e. taxpayers) must provide funding for the shortfall.

[vwdan]

No it's not silly.

As I understand it, SpontaneousOrder is saying that the government should not dictate that a private business must deal with a particular private customer. For one thing the losses that could cause would kill off some smaller firms.

If they want to legislate in some way, and I'm not disagreeing with it depending on the circumstances, they (i.e. taxpayers) must provide funding for the shortfall.

So, you disagree with The Disability Discrimination Act*, and don't think shops and businesses should have to change anything to cater to the disabled?

*I believe it's now been renamed and updated, but that's not pertinent.

Businesses have to do lots of things and they don't get money from the government for most of them - like I say, you can debate the specifics of this case, but to pretend the government "has no business" is just silly.

[original PM]

Interesting thread.

But surely as a business owner it is up to me as to who I want/do not want as a customer.

If I decide to limit myself to selling goods to people with Yorkshire accents - then so be it - fact is if my shop is in London then that is a piss poor business model and as such my business would fail.

Whether I decide therefore that spending lots of money modifying my premises to accomodate the one or two disabled people who might want to buy my sledges is not good business sense as it will never give me any ROI then that is my decision to not do that.

It's just economics

[vwdan]

Interesting thread.

But surely as a business owner it is up to me as to who I want/do not want as a customer.

If I decide to limit myself to selling goods to people with Yorkshire accents - then so be it - fact is if my shop is in London then that is a piss poor business model and as such my business would fail.

Whether I decide therefore that spending lots of money modifying my premises to accomodate the one or two disabled people who might want to buy my sledges is not good business sense as it will never give me any ROI then that is my decision to not do that.

It's just economics

I don't think you're inherently wrong in what you say, but surely you accept that there are certain groups of people who need some form of protection from outright discrimination? Do you feel your argument applies equally to black people?

[original PM]

I don't think you're inherently wrong in what you say, but surely you accept that there are certain groups of people who need some form of protection from outright discrimination? Do you feel your argument applies equally to black people?

The argument for me is actually about my freedom of choice - I should be able to sell my goods and do business with whoever I want to.

Now as in intelligent being then I can see that it is better if I would ensure that every man and his dog regardless of creed, colour or ability was able to come and buy my wares as it makes better business sense.

But then back to the point - should it be up to the government to dictate to me who I trade with? - no.

[vwdan]

The argument for me is actually about my freedom of choice - I should be able to sell my goods and do business with whoever I want to.

Now as in intelligent being then I can see that it is better if I would ensure that every man and his dog regardless of creed, colour or ability was able to come and buy my wares as it makes better business sense.

But then back to the point - should it be up to the government to dictate to me who I trade with? - no.

Okay, in which case we clearly have a somewhat fundamental difference of opinion. You think it should be legal for a shop to refuse service to a black person, and I don't

[d000hg]

Interesting thread.

But surely as a business owner it is up to me as to who I want/do not want as a customer.

If I decide to limit myself to selling goods to people with Yorkshire accents - then so be it - fact is if my shop is in London then that is a piss poor business model and as such my business would fail.

Whether I decide therefore that spending lots of money modifying my premises to accomodate the one or two disabled people who might want to buy my sledges is not good business sense as it will never give me any ROI then that is my decision to not do that.

It's just economics

Would you say you should be allowed to refuse black people as customers as well as the disabled and those from Yorkshire?

[eek]

It may be worth looking at this price list not that its the local firm I use.

Note the argument is about a disabled person needing to use a specialist 4-8 car taxi at the price of the car while paying below the regulated meter price...

[eek]

Would you say you should be allowed to refuse black people as customers as well as the disabled and those from Yorkshire?

I wouldn't refuse disabled and black people.

People from yorkshire are, however, an entirely different matter.