The Fight Against Food Trucks

[Hal Jordan]

The 'people' are fickle. They want it all, regardless of whether it is possible or not. You would have to put it to a referendum and be very explicit i.e. you can have your family friendly restaurants or you can have food trucks, but you can't have both. Choose.

By what right would the government be able to make that choice?

[Dr. Who]

By what right would the government be able to make that choice?

If they put it to a referendum, it wouldn't be the government choosing, but the choice would have to be A or B because both won't work. Restaurants are one of the most economically fragile businesses out there, especially those that cater to the masses. The profit margins are so small that even a food truck at lunch time can make your business fail. The fact is that the overhead for restaurants vs what they can charge is a very delicate balancing act. If people would rather have the choice of all manner of food trucks at lunchtime than someplace to take their families, that should be their choice, but they need to know that they can't have both.

[Hal Jordan]

If they put it to a referendum, it wouldn't be the government choosing, but the choice would have to be A or B because both won't work. Restaurants are one of the most economically fragile businesses out there, especially those that cater to the masses. The profit margins are so small that even a food truck at lunch time can make your business fail. The fact is that the overhead for restaurants vs what they can charge is a very delicate balancing act. If people would rather have the choice of all manner of food trucks at lunchtime than someplace to take their families, that should be their choice, but they need to know that they can't have both.

I think the only way that choice can be made is where people choose to spend their money.

[resister]

If they put it to a referendum, it wouldn't be the government choosing, but the choice would have to be A or B because both won't work. Restaurants are one of the most economically fragile businesses out there, especially those that cater to the masses. The profit margins are so small that even a food truck at lunch time can make your business fail. The fact is that the overhead for restaurants vs what they can charge is a very delicate balancing act. If people would rather have the choice of all manner of food trucks at lunchtime than someplace to take their families, that should be their choice, but they need to know that they can't have both.

I think the only way that choice can be made is where people choose to spend their money.

Defers to Government regulations VS free market, obvious who the Democrat is.

[Chris]

If they put it to a referendum, it wouldn't be the government choosing, but the choice would have to be A or B because both won't work. Restaurants are one of the most economically fragile businesses out there, especially those that cater to the masses. The profit margins are so small that even a food truck at lunch time can make your business fail. The fact is that the overhead for restaurants vs what they can charge is a very delicate balancing act. If people would rather have the choice of all manner of food trucks at lunchtime than someplace to take their families, that should be their choice, but they need to know that they can't have both.

A referendum is still the government deciding.

Let the people vote with their pennies.

[Chris]

I think the only way that choice can be made is where people choose to spend their money.

Some just can't let the people decide.

[Captdon]

I can empathize with both sides. Too bad for the food truck owners who just want to make a living. But there's a heck of a lot of competition already for fast food restaurants - it's a tough business. If a food truck doesn't make out, they might have to sell their truck to someone else and take a loss. How much would that be? $10,000.00 to 20,000? A brick and mortar fast food restaurant stands to lose a lot more when business falls off. I once saw a Dairy Queen in my area shut down and the building stood empty for 3 or 4 years. And the owner, whoever it was, paid taxes on a multimillion dollar property all those years, then likely sold the property at a big loss. So I don't feel too sorry for the food trucks even though I understand their desire to make a living.

P.S. I don't own a fast food restaurant and I don't own any fast food stocks. I also don't eat fast food because I value my health.

So what? Either you make it or you don't. Keep the government out of as much as possible. This just another example of the feds choosing winners and losers.

[Dr. Who]

I think the only way that choice can be made is where people choose to spend their money.

Then the restaurants fail and the people demand to know why they have no family friendly restaurants for the budget minded, ultimately blaming the municipal government for their own choices. Wouldn't it be better to educate the public and let them make an informed decision by referendum? At least that way, the entrepreneurs know the score and can plan accordingly and not get bankrupted in the process.

[Chris]

Then the restaurants fail and the people demand to know why they have no family friendly restaurants for the budget minded, ultimately blaming the municipal government for their own choices. Wouldn't it be better to educate the public and let them make an informed decision by referendum? At least that way, the entrepreneurs know the score and can plan accordingly and not get bankrupted in the process.

Why would they fail unless they don't provide what people want?

[Hal Jordan]

Then the restaurants fail and the people demand to know why they have no family friendly restaurants for the budget minded, ultimately blaming the municipal government for their own choices. Wouldn't it be better to educate the public and let them make an informed decision by referendum? At least that way, the entrepreneurs know the score and can plan accordingly and not get bankrupted in the process.

I don't agree at all that they would fail. Some might, but that could happen anyway. If people want the family friendly restaurants, they will support them. Forcing the issue with the government would definitely lead to disastrous consequences. Businesses would definitely be forced to shut down. Educating the people is great, but you still have to allow choices. The businesses that do their jobs well will prosper, and those that don't will fail, food trucks and brick and mortar restaurants both. If the entrepreneurs don't find out the score anyway, they are failing at their jobs anyway.

Look at New York City. I had a discussion with a former roommate that currently lives there about restaurants there. You can basically walk into any restaurant there and have a fantastic meal. Why is that? Because if they don't deliver something great, they will fold quickly because of the costs associated with New York. Food trucks aren't a plague on brick and mortar restaurants. If anything, they just increase the challenge and force the brick and mortar locations to provide a better experience. Forcing the food trucks out will only allow the restaurants to provide a worse experience than they otherwise could.