California is cracking down on the gig economy

Post by cycomanic » Sat, Jun 01, 2019, 10:37 AM UTC

cinquemb wrote: post #59

blub wrote: post #52

Earlier quoted context omitted.

What's the point of the economic strength of the US, if the results of that strength disproportionately go to the so-called elites and building war machines? Healthcare, homelessness, massive inequality are perennial awkward topics for an allegedly rich country like the US. If anything, the US should scale back profits and rebuild its social supports structures, the same structures which were torn down in the name of…

I was speaking to relative economic strength, It's not that I think the US employment rate means much either: without government debt financing deficits, US gdp would be in contraction (like nearly other OECD economy). >If anything, the US should scale back profits and rebuild its social supports structures, the same structures which were torn down in the name of profit. All of this sounds like more debt, which if we…

Post by tomohawk » Sat, Jun 01, 2019, 10:52 AM UTC

cycomanic wrote: post #89

manfredo wrote: post #42

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The whole idea of "unemployment insurance" for an Uber driver is not compatible with their business model. This isn't a factory where workers come in at 9 and leave at 5 and you either have a job or you don't. Uber drivers set their own hours. What would unemployment insurance for an Uber or Lyft driver look like? If you get less than X rides per hour you get unemployment insurance? Regardless, let me make this simpl…

Why should I as a taxpayer (mind you I am not American, argument still holds though) subsidise ubers business practices? Because that is exactly what you are arguing for. The article clearly states, that uber is extwrnalising costs, which results in significant losses for the state. Somebody will have to pick up the tap, and your argument seems to be that regular taxpayers should do it.

Post by lapnitnelav » Sat, Jun 01, 2019, 11:22 AM UTC

kwcts wrote: post #73

freeflight wrote: post #23

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Those German worker rights, and strong ties between companies and unions were supposedly among the reasons why Walmart failed in Germany: “They didn’t understand that in Germany, companies and unions are closely connected,” Mr. Poschmann said. “Bentonville didn’t want to have anything to do with unions. They thought we were communists.” [0] [0] https://www.nytimes.com/2006/08/02/business/worldbusiness/02...

>In Germany, Wal-Mart stopped requiring sales clerks to smile at customers — a practice that some male shoppers interpreted as flirting — and scrapped the morning Wal-Mart chant by staff members. This is just fucking insane. That's not a supermarket, that's like a cult. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HpPUUWp5sO4

Post by chungleong » Sat, Jun 01, 2019, 11:26 AM UTC

TomMarius wrote: post #90

chungleong wrote: post #85

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A service like BlaBlaCar (in Europe) is what can legitimately be called ride-sharing. Uber is fleet of pirate taxis.

In many cities of Europe (like Prague, where I live) we call Uber "savior". Using taxis used to be flat out dangerous (crazy drivers with no regards for anything, often drunk or on cocaine or meth) and it was guaranteed you're going to pay at least 3 but usually 5 times more than you should - Uber fixed that and is cheaper than the "correct" (by law) price, it solves safety, I don't have to wait 30+ minutes, ... And…

Post by StavrosK » Sat, Jun 01, 2019, 11:37 AM UTC

TomMarius wrote: post #96

StavrosK wrote: post #94

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In many cities of Europe, and Greece, where I live we have apps like Beat that are basically Uber for actual taxis. That way you get good drivers, ratings, they have an incentive to be good or get booted off the platform and lose customers, etc, without the indentured servitude of Uber.

The problem in Prague is that the taxi lobby tries everything it can (including making hard to obey laws and stopping the whole city traffic as a protest) to stop new players from entering the official market. They (the official taxi drivers) have allies on the government side since the late 90's - the market actually used to be way more liberal (and it was better back then).