DC CAB
When you get into a DC cab, you will be understandably disappointed to find neither Mr. T nor Paul Rodriguez chauffeuring you around the Chocolate City. (Sorry, the 80s are over—Ian MacKaye and Henry Rollins don’t work at the Georgetown Häagen-Dazs anymore either… deal with it.) What you will find are some of the most politically savvy cabbies in the nation—guys who seem to have either escaped some evil authoritarian regime or worked for one until it fell. These guys don’t care about the weather, they don’t make Bobby McFerrin-inspired small talk, and they don’t care if you don’t wanna talk about politics. In DC cabs, you talk politics.
SAMSON WORKU, ETHIOPIA
VICE: How did you become so interested in politics?
SAMSON WORKU: I was in prison in Ethiopia for three years. From 1974 to 1991 we were under communist rule and that’s why I was arrested—I was struggling for a multiparty system and for the eradication of the communist system in my country.
What are you thinking about the future of American politics?
President Obama shows that America is really leading the world in democracy, and I’m really happy about that because it was my third time to vote in America. I lost two times, but now I won, and now I’m very happy for my country—that means the United States of America.
Have you had any DC bigwigs in your cab?
George Stephanopoulos. He was in my cab two times. I was happy with him, he is from Greece originally, and he’s a Coptic Christian and I’m a Coptic Christian Orthodox, so we talked about those things.
How does he tip?
Oh, he tips good. About 20 percent, so it’s not bad.
Is he really as short as he looks?
Very short. Big head. He’s a good guy. |
PATRICK GAFFA, UGANDA
VICE: Do you discuss politics with any of the other drivers?
PATRICK GAFFA: No, ’cause I’m the only Ugandan so I usually don’t mix with other tribes. They talk the politics of their countries.
Why don’t you tell them about the politics of your country?
I would if I had somebody to discuss it with here, but there’s no one.
What brought you to the US?
I came for school purposes. Psychology.
Do you perform psychoanalysis on your passengers?
Yes. But I don’t tell them.
What do you think of the Bush legacy?
Nothing. Totally nothing.
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AFTAB AHMED, PAKISTAN
VICE: Why are DC cabbies so politically minded?
AFTAB AHMED: Because most of the cab drivers are much more educated than the average American person. They’re not only high school graduates, they’re university graduates. They can’t find the job they’re looking for, and they don’t want to do odd jobs, so that’s why they drive the cabs. I have a master’s in chemistry.
No jobs for chemists in DC?
I used to work in it, but I’m not interested in it anymore. There’s just not enough money in that profession, and you’re surrounded by four walls and that’s it.
So what’s the current hot topic?
The economic turmoil. The current president doesn’t know how to fix it, or the coming president. |
TONY PONTE, IRAN
VICE: I really want to go to Iran, but they don’t seem to want me.
TONY PONTE: They don’t want anybody.
Why did you leave?
Life was difficult for me there. I feel better over here, but right now with what our mayor is doing, things are tough for cab drivers.
So you don’t think Mayor Adrian Fenty should run for president?
Hell no! He’s a dictator. He’s the Ahmadinejad of Washington, DC.
What do you think about US-Iran relations? Their embassy here has been boarded up since ’79.
We definitely want to have a relationship with them, but the kind of relationship the United States wants is the kind that works only for them.
So you don’t think Bush did a good job with that?
He… is the worst president… that ever existed.
Worse than Ahmadinejad?
If Ahmadinejad had the power that Bush had, he’d be dangerous. |
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SIMACHEW DESTA, ETHIOPIA
VICE: So you’ve been in the States since 1981. What brought you here?
SIMACHEW DESTA: An airplane.
So what do you think about the state of the union?
This country is going down, economically. Unless something is done about it, everyone’s going to be in bad, bad shape. But when I compare it to Ethiopia or Ghana or anyplace else… there’s real freedom here.
There’s freedom, but it seems the American government is on a nationalization kick. And then you’ve got Obama the Marxist…
You guys don’t know what Marxism is! I was a Marxist a long time ago. Obama isn’t even close to Marxist!
When I was younger I used to be involved in politics, I guess that’s why I’m here, to some extent. But now I’m old and, as the Marxists say, “negation of the negation.” Let the younger ones take over and let the elderly sit and watch.
INTERVIEWS AND PHOTOS BY JASON MOJICA
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Anonymous, on Jun 16, 2009 wrote:
so true.
dc cabbies are kind of awesome... | | Anonymous, on Apr 10, 2009 wrote:
Seriously, I’ve had some pretty kick ass conversations w/the cabbies here in DeCeit. It’s like anywhere else, but yeah, motherfuckas usually pretty bright behind the wheel. | | Anonymous, on Apr 10, 2009 wrote:
I’d go to Iran if there was booze there. Iranian women are so ooh la la!!! | | Anonymous, on Apr 10, 2009 wrote:
Anonymous, on Apr 10, 2009 wrote:
"WOAH WOAH WOAH - Henry Rollins worked at a Haagen Dazs? Holy shit, how have I never heard this before?"
Dude, seriously? Everyone who is into hardcore punk at one point in their lives knows that tidbit of Rollins’ life. | | Anonymous, on Apr 10, 2009 wrote:
"He… is the worst president… that ever existed."
Coming from someone that fled Iran that says A LOT! | | Anonymous, on Apr 10, 2009 wrote:
i want aftab to be my new drinking buddy. he looks liek goodtimes mcgee. | | Anonymous, on Apr 10, 2009 wrote:
Simachew is a fucking joker. You don’t see enough foreign cabbies with a sense of humor. Most of the time they’re too busy yelling into their Bluetooth about some jibberish I can’t understand but I always think they’re screaming at their wives about something. | | lowbrow, on Apr 10, 2009 wrote:
i’d rather talk politics with the ugandan dude than any of the others myself. you think shit is hitting the fan here? our problems don’t hold a candle to uganda. | | Anonymous, on Apr 10, 2009 wrote:
jesus. these guys make me a little bit sad that i’m not more patriotic. not patriotic in an american flag sticker on my car way, but in a home sweet home way. | | Anonymous, on Apr 10, 2009 wrote:
is 20% considered an okay tip? i never know what to tip cabbies, one of the reasons i don’t like them. so glad it’s warming up - bike time! | | Anonymous, on Apr 10, 2009 wrote:
WOAH WOAH WOAH - Henry Rollins worked at a Haagen Dazs? Holy shit, how have I never heard this before? | | |
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