CRI听力：Taxi ban a public nuisance

Taxis are banned from driving past a Shijiazhuang municipal government building, according to a recent regulation issued by the local government.

A commentary published in the Beijing-based China Youth Daily criticizes the regulation, and calls this so-called "bureaucratic working style" an attempt to separate the government from the masses. The author of this commentary argues that the move appears to be an effort to distinguish the government as more superior than the masses. (www.hXen.com)

The author continues that the local government misuses power entrusted by the people to generate private interest. The ban only serves the good for the governmental officials by clearing the road of the automobiles. However, for ordinary people, especially those who rely on the taxis to commute, the ban obviously impacts their lives daily.

The Beijing News also published a commentary that argues the government, enterprises and the masses are fundamentally equal. The government, who uses the tax-payers' money to maintain its operation, must shoulder the responsibility of serving the public and be open to the public.