Live data from Hacker News

Gig economy companies spent more than $200M to bankroll Proposition 22

theguardian.com

1–10 of 401 posts

Re: Gig economy companies spent more than $200M to bankroll Proposition 22

#3
What's with the weird punctuation in the altered title? Makes it hard to read. The article title is "Uber bought itself a law. Here's why that's dangerous for struggling drivers like me", and if you want to fit it into 80 characters, just drop the "like me".

Re: Gig economy companies spent more than $200M to bankroll Proposition 22

#4
"In California, one of the world’s wealthiest economies, I should be able to afford rent and pay my bills as a driver. I shouldn’t be forced to scour for public bathrooms or work 70-hour weeks to do this job. But that’s what these companies have forced upon us."

"Uber may have bought itself a law, but it has not bought itself reprieve. All labor has dignity, and driving for Uber or Lyft should be no different."

Cherri Murphy is a social justice minister and Lyft driver based in Oakland, California. She is also an organizer with Gig Workers Rising.

Oh ok, that makes sense.

Re: Gig economy companies spent more than $200M to bankroll Proposition 22

#6
post #2

Maybe I'm too libertarian-leaning, but doesn't the author of the article have the option of NOT driving for Uber? If California is truly one of the wealthiest economies, the author should be able to find a different line of work.

That's a valid point. The question is why all other Uber/Lyft drivers are not changing jobs for something fancier if that is so easy.

Re: Gig economy companies spent more than $200M to bankroll Proposition 22

#7
post #2

Maybe I'm too libertarian-leaning, but doesn't the author of the article have the option of NOT driving for Uber? If California is truly one of the wealthiest economies, the author should be able to find a different line of work.

Have you tried finding work when your education is not in demand? Please don’t minimize other’s lived experience.

Re: Gig economy companies spent more than $200M to bankroll Proposition 22

#8
post #2

Maybe I'm too libertarian-leaning, but doesn't the author of the article have the option of NOT driving for Uber? If California is truly one of the wealthiest economies, the author should be able to find a different line of work.

You could say that to miners complaining about their work conditions in the 19th century, too.

Re: Gig economy companies spent more than $200M to bankroll Proposition 22

#9
post #7
post #2

Maybe I'm too libertarian-leaning, but doesn't the author of the article have the option of NOT driving for Uber? If California is truly one of the wealthiest economies, the author should be able to find a different line of work.

Have you tried finding work when your education is not in demand? Please don’t minimize other’s lived experience.

That's a fair point, but if your education is not in demand, I don't see a reason to think that driving a car, something that 80+% of American adults are capable of doing, should provide a full household income on 40 hours per week of effort.

That initial condition (your education is not in demand) definitely represents a tough position, but it's not clear that it's ride-sharing's "fault" in any way. Instead, it seems to me like ride-sharing is providing them with a better alternative than whatever their next-best alternative is; in other words, it's helping them not harming them.

Re: Gig economy companies spent more than $200M to bankroll Proposition 22

#10
post #3

What's with the weird punctuation in the altered title? Makes it hard to read. The article title is "Uber bought itself a law. Here's why that's dangerous for struggling drivers like me", and if you want to fit it into 80 characters, just drop the "like me".

It is a new - of writing. - is faster to type, but - to read.
Post reply on HN