Better services should not wait for leaders to experience problems

A taxi driver opens the door for an old man after reaching the destination in Zhanjiang on Oct 21. [Photo/Agencies]

The party chief of sanya, Hainan province in South China, recently waited 55 minutes at the local train station to get a taxi. As a result he has promised to accelerate taxi reform in the city. Comments:

Taxi companies have long been criticized for their poor service and high rates. It is a consensus of ordinary residents that the current system in which government-run taxi companies enjoy a monopoly needs to be changed. It is necessary to break the interest alliance of local governments and monopoly enterprises to accelerate reform.

Hainan Daily, Nov 4

There are so many problems facing ordinary people; taxis are only one of them. The Party chief cannot experience the challenges ordinary residents face every day. The solution to the problem lies in allowing the people to evaluate the performance of government officials and let those who fail to serve them pay the deserved price.

China National Radio, via micro blog, Nov 5

Had the Party chief not waited for a taxi himself, he might never have known the problems facing ordinary residents. That's the key problem for various levels of government in China today: namely those making the policies do not share the interests or feelings of ordinary people. It is urgent to propel reform so that officials no longer enjoy privileges and live the same lives as ordinary residents.

Beijing Youth Daily, Nov 5

People have long complained about the taxi industry in Sanya, yet there has been few effective response from the government until the Party chief encountered the problem himself. Ironically, after he complained, one department after another raised proposals about how to solve the problem. Obviously, our officials know what is right and what is wrong; they are just too lazy to help the people.

Huashang Daily, Nov 5