General Discussion

Xithras

(16,191 posts)

7. I'm on the fence about it.

Reply to WhaTHellsgoingonhere (Original post)

Thu Jul 23, 2015, 03:35 PM

Jul 2015

Generally, the goal of many modern social employment apps is the destruction of the traditional "employee/employer" system. Everyone works for themselves, and big companies cease to exist. On one level, that model fits well with some of my more anarchist left-wing tendencies. Decentralization of power away from corporations, government, and companies and into the hands of individuals is a GOOD thing.

On the other hand, the leadership of Uber has made it clear that they're primary goal is profit-taking and obstructing even the most basic of regulatory schemes to protect both drivers and passengers. I can support that.

Personally, I'd like to see something like Uber with a decentralized leadership structure. Like an "driver owned" version of the company.

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Where do people here come down on Uber et. al.? [View all] WhaTHellsgoingonhere Jul 2015 OP

Typical captialist organization, using workers with no benefits, working under no reglations, Agnosticsherbet Jul 2015 #1

What's the smaller business that they're "forcing out of business:? Initech Jul 2015 #23

Many Taxi drivers are independents who must be licensed Agnosticsherbet Jul 2015 #24

Is there something wrong TeddyR Jul 2015 #27

I'm a big fan of "ideal gasses" myself. immoderate Jul 2015 #29

Is there something wrong with running an unregulated Agnosticsherbet Jul 2015 #52

"Free Market" = Thread Fail WhaTHellsgoingonhere Jul 2015 #57

+1 nt laundry_queen Jul 2015 #96

The medallion owner/driver thing is a myth in a lot of cities Recursion Jul 2015 #87

Their entire premise that drivers are contractors is wrong mythology Jul 2015 #2

The drivers get screwed in both systems Recursion Jul 2015 #80

They should have to work under the same regulations as anyone else. Erich Bloodaxe BSN Jul 2015 #3

Sometimes the reason there are regulations is to protect a monopoly. This is often the case PoliticAverse Jul 2015 #11

"artificially limited" jberryhill Jul 2015 #19

What monopoly is that? we can do it Jul 2015 #66

My post concerned the case when the number of licenses granted is limited regardless PoliticAverse Jul 2015 #68

Bullshit. See post 19. Another scam to suck the life out of workers. we can do it Jul 2015 #69

You know most cab drivers in NYC actually have to lease their vehicles PoliticAverse Jul 2015 #71

Most places taxi drivers lease vehicles. so. we can do it Jul 2015 #73

No, arbitrarily limiting the number of medallions back in the 1930s Recursion Jul 2015 #74

Can see that could be a problem. we can do it Jul 2015 #78

How much vetting do you think the yellow cabs do of their drivers? Recursion Jul 2015 #82

In places where a taxi medallion might be $300,000 madville Jul 2015 #4

Owning a medallion is a misinformation campaign WhaTHellsgoingonhere Jul 2015 #58

If you can find a medallion owner who will lease to you Recursion Jul 2015 #75

Uber is stealth deregulation and union-busting Spider Jerusalem Jul 2015 #5

I'm waiting for automobile insurance companies to figure out that they can justify Maedhros Jul 2015 #6

Bingo! B Calm Jul 2015 #10

Or...... philosslayer Jul 2015 #13

As some one who works in the insurance industry.... Xolodno Jul 2015 #14

I had this question also Major Nikon Jul 2015 #17

I wondered about that dflprincess Jul 2015 #79

One ran over a kid in a crosswalk in San Francisco LeftyMom Jul 2015 #63

I'm on the fence about it. Xithras Jul 2015 #7

I like your analysis and your idea about driver ownership! csziggy Jul 2015 #28

Its a transitional company that will eventually replace most taxi services with automated cars... Humanist_Activist Jul 2015 #8

Yes, it's transitional. immoderate Jul 2015 #36

What you say is true, but, if we are able to implement good public policy to... Humanist_Activist Jul 2015 #53

I know some carless people that use Uber... HooptieWagon Jul 2015 #9

You don't need a background check to drive a yellow cab, either, in most places Recursion Jul 2015 #85

Thete are some nice yhings about Uber ripcord Jul 2015 #12

They are presently spamming NYC media with ads KamaAina Jul 2015 #15

I live in SoCal and I don't drive. Iggo Jul 2015 #16

So you like unlicensed, unregulated people driving you around? philosslayer Jul 2015 #86

Cabs are ridiculously expensive yeoman6987 Jul 2015 #90

It's an unlicensed, unregulated commercial taxi service which is also skirting tax law groundloop Jul 2015 #18

I think it undermines access for people with disabilities. HereSince1628 Jul 2015 #20

I love my state's approach on it nadinbrzezinski Jul 2015 #21

Buzzfeed is wrong. former9thward Jul 2015 #43

They have an update on it nadinbrzezinski Jul 2015 #45

Precisely Sherman A1 Jul 2015 #47

Automobiles suck. hunter Jul 2015 #22

Some people like to venture freely beyond walking distance seveneyes Jul 2015 #25

I've always been within walking or sailing distance of the entire planet. hunter Jul 2015 #26

Really? TeddyR Jul 2015 #30

"I ought to be able to walk to the grocery store" EX500rider Jul 2015 #54

Real taxis all the way. Lizzie Poppet Jul 2015 #31

If you don't like Uber, don't ride with them, Nye Bevan Jul 2015 #32

What makes you credit Uber with a drop in DUIs? And do you have a link to support that? randome Jul 2015 #38

"Uber Might Already Be Reducing DUIs" Nye Bevan Jul 2015 #39

"Might." Even if true, the reasons can and should be adopted. randome Jul 2015 #48

Powerful circumstantial evidence. Nye Bevan Jul 2015 #49

DUIs....exactly. tammywammy Jul 2015 #42

So because you could drink more than usual, Uber contractors (not employees, remember)... randome Jul 2015 #50

What damage did the drivers suffer? whatthehey Jul 2015 #70

Uber represents the gig economy - thumbs down daredtowork Jul 2015 #33

I know some people who drove for Uber kimbutgar Jul 2015 #34

Uber, to me, is like Twitter LuvLoogie Jul 2015 #35

Desperation capitalism with the owners rolling in millions. randome Jul 2015 #37

Why? TeddyR Jul 2015 #40

The owners make millions. Drivers, for the most part, break even or lose money. randome Jul 2015 #46

Laura Washington, an AA columnist in Chicago, wrote a column about how Uber former9thward Jul 2015 #41

Getting a cab to pick you up on the Southside is difficult in general. Ace Rothstein Jul 2015 #92

Union Breaking Cab Service for the Elite! KoKo Jul 2015 #44

Definitely not for the elite. Elites have car services with luxury cars and limos. stevenleser Jul 2015 #59

I hate it olddots Jul 2015 #51

I like it. I took uber home last night WestCoastLib Jul 2015 #55

Another industry a liberal wants to drive the wages... WhaTHellsgoingonhere Jul 2015 #64

It's a reshuffling of where the jobs are. WestCoastLib Jul 2015 #72

Reshuffling from cabs to personal cars? That's a loser. WhaTHellsgoingonhere Jul 2015 #77

No protection for passengers. kiva Jul 2015 #56

"Natural monopoly" WhaTHellsgoingonhere Jul 2015 #60

I think that misguided yuppies ibegurpard Jul 2015 #61

It's deregulation. Starry Messenger Jul 2015 #62

Uber is total bullshit. we can do it Jul 2015 #65

Haven't studied it fully, but there are things about it I don't like. Renew Deal Jul 2015 #67

In big coastal cities it's breaking the political power of rich medallion owners Recursion Jul 2015 #76

Scab cabbies depressing wages. TransitJohn Jul 2015 #81

Do they actually make less than medallion drivers? Recursion Jul 2015 #83

Uber is precisely what is wrong with today's economy ericson00 Jul 2015 #84

I generally accept the notion that Uber is first and foremost a software company Sen. Walter Sobchak Jul 2015 #88

Cars & capitalism are both evil... Yurovsky Jul 2015 #89

Bernie won't get rid of either... brooklynite Jul 2015 #91

Date rape without the date? spqr78 Jul 2015 #93

I'm only vaguely failiar with Uber. Have any cabbies weighed in on the issues, pro or con? pinto Jul 2015 #94

I've only ridden Uber once, to a concert, and the car was nice and the driver was friendly petronius Jul 2015 #95