Uber mows down Bill de Blasio

Washington Post ^ | July 27, 2015 | By Richard Cohen

[Brad from Tennessee]

Uber just ran over the mayor of New York. Bill de Blasio (D) wanted to limit the company’s expansion, citing traffic and complaints from the taxi industry, which is, as the saying goes, on the wrong side of history. Uber marshaled most of the world’s lobbyists and consultants and, in the apt description of the online journal Capital “crushed the mayor.” He merely decided to study the matter.

He can study all he wants, but if the proper study of mankind is man (Alexander Pope), then the proper study of Uber is not the additional traffic it creates but how it has been embraced by all sorts of people and donned the white hat of progress. Those who oppose it — cab drivers and such — are not characterized as unfortunate victims of technology, but villains who are standing in the way of progress. This, in America, is high treason.

Uber managed to cast itself as progress incarnate and the taxi industry as a bunch of thick-headed peasants who didn’t know that its time had passed. . .

[goodwithagun]

Isn’t it interesting how much “progressives” truly hate real progress?

[Moonman62]

Taxi companies shave been buying politicians for a long time.

[stephenjohnbanker]

“Isn’t it interesting how much “progressives” truly hate real progress?”

Leftists cannot tell the truth, because their ideology is based on proven lies.

Climate change

pro-choice

Affordable Care Act

Take your pick of subject matter. All lies.

[Maurice Tift]

but if self driving trucks replace truck drivers, then who will call in to late night talk radio shows?

[JoeFromSidney]

but if self driving trucks replace truck drivers, then who will call in to late night talk radio shows?

And will late-night radio stations still play trucking songs?

[Fitzy_888]

Article misses to point.

Uber is free market anarchy, that’s the take away and it’s being taken away by mallenials. The left can’t have that.

[Fitzy_888]

To = the

[Fitzy_888]

The entire concept of licensing, which employees millions of civil servants btw, has a lot to do with how you can advertise or otherwise represent yourself. That’s true whether your a taxi driver, a barber, nurse, plumber, engineer, etc. Advertising yourself as any of these without a government provided license is illegal.

If I can just go on a website, be connected with and negotiate the price of a service...what role does licensing necccesarily have if we both agree? Licensing no longer matters. Further, if we can agree to a cash or barter deal, who’s paying taxes?

This is free market anarchy run wild on the interest and the government can’t possibly track it.

If I find someone online that says they can cut hair, maybe they grew up cutting their siblings hair. No license. Ok, but will you do it for $5? DEAL!

The state loses it’s licensing power and related fees. Also loses the tax revenue. We don’t need a barber shop, no property taxes, inspections, etc.

Or, maybe I need a home nurse for a family member in a pitch. “So, you say you took care of your elderly parents?” (Yes). “Do you have a nursing license?” (No). Ok, will you take $12 per hour cash. (Yes). Ok, deal!

The Statists CAN NOT have this!

[Alberta's Child]

Uber's operations in New York City are different than almost anywhere else in the U.S. Unlike the unregulated high-tech ridesharing business model they use elsewhere, Uber in NYC is regulated by the NYC Taxi & Limousine Commission -- and its drivers basically function as regular livery car drivers with their own vehicles.

Interestingly, this results in a competitive environment where Uber is selling comfort and better service, not lower costs. For a ride from JFK Airport to Midtown Manhattan, for example, an Uber ride is actually more expensive than a NYC taxi ride.

[thirst4truth]

Another good one is progressives are for choice, they say its in the constitution for a woman to choose to kill or not kill her baby. So why aren’t they for choice of taxi, choice of schools, choice of lightbulbs, choice for a health care plan that suits their needs, what about choosing as in choice to eat or not eat trans fats or gmo food? No the only choice the democrats, progressives, liberals, the press and the POTUS and the FLOUTUS are for is to kill or not kill your baby!

[Jane Long]

Rush has been making that same point, about Uber and the Millennials. The left doesn’t dare want their dumbed down younger generation to *get* what Free Markets are all about.

I pray the Millennials will wake up soon and realize that government is NOT about *helping*, it’s about CONTROLLING. Maybe the Uber issue will help with that.