Katy Grimes wrote a great piece about the attack on free market transportation over on Flash Report today:
This free market response to the heavily regulated, unionized and expensive taxi and shuttle industry, is brilliant. Uber, Sidecar and Lyft work beautifully, and usually flawlessly, unlike unreliable shuttle services, and sometimes hostile and unscrupulous taxi drivers. And it is significantly less expensive.
Some in the media have said consumers only care about the immediacy and convenience of the quick, easy-to-order rideshare car services, and not about who is driving, or if they have insurance.
Nothing could be further from the truth, according to the hundreds of California Uber, Sidecar and Lyft users I’ve talked to recently. Single women, married couples, older couples, college students, and couples on dates, say they love Uber because they feel safer knowing ahead who is coming to pick them up, and appreciate the ability to make the payment transaction, ahead of the ride using a credit or debit card, instead of cash.
Sprung out of the heavily regulated and very expensive, unionized cab and shuttle service industry, these new rideshare car services are the ultimate expression of a free market solution and innovation.
Grimes goes on to scold Republicans who voted WITH the taxi-cab cartel and against free market principles:
Being the party of less government, and full of free marketers, Republicans should own this issue. However, too many in the Legislature are supporting anti-rideshare bills AB 2293, and AB 612, would require ride-sharing companies to abide by extensive new regulations, and be the end of the innovative ride-share industry.
In San Diego, Senators Anderson and Wyland stood up for freedom. Every other legislator, including the usually conservative Brian Jones, and Diane Harkey, voted for the taxi-cab cartel and against freedom. That’s disappointing.
Comments 8
As a rideshare driver myself I feel much safer then I would driving for a taxi because it’s a cashless system so I can’t be robbed and I know Who I am picking up not only have I been but the passenger has been vetted and their contact information is known. I provide a safer more enjoyable experience for less than a taxi would because my customers get to rate me and my rating matters. A taxi driver has no reason to care at all whether or not you were satisfied with the service he provided.
Video.
http://fox40.com/2014/08/22/sen-huesos-arrest-another-black-eye-for-california-democrats/#ooid=RhaGxzbzrSZM6lCsLQumEAMDjXSVr7ro
Why on earth would Republicans vote against Uber and for cartel protection? Why indeed.
Check their campaign contributions and IE support in the coming months. Money talks.
This is VERY disappointing. The very issue Republicans should shine on, and too many fail to support freedom and choice.
Am I to understand that ALL our San Diego County Assembly critters voted for this cartel protection measure? ALL of ’em?
Assembly Floor:
Ayes: Achadjian, Alejo, Allen, Ammiano, Atkins, Bigelow, Bloom, Blumenfield, Bocanegra, Bonilla, Bonta, Bradford, Brown, Buchanan, Ian Calderon, Campos, Chau, Chávez, Chesbro, Conway, Cooley, Dahle, Daly, Dickinson, Donnelly, Fong, Fox, Frazier, Beth Gaines, Garcia, Gatto, Gomez, Gorell, Gray, Hagman, Hall, Harkey, Roger Hernández, Jones, Jones-Sawyer, Levine, Linder, Lowenthal, Maienschein, Mansoor, Medina, Melendez, Mitchell, Morrell, Mullin, Muratsuchi, Nazarian, Nestande, Olsen, Pan, Patterson, Perea, V. Manuel Pérez, Quirk, Quirk-Silva, Rendon, Salas, Skinner, Stone, Ting, Torres, Weber, Wieckowski, Wilk, Williams, Yamada, John A. Pérez
Noes: Eggman
No Votes Recorded: Gordon, Grove, Holden, Logue, Wagner, Waldron
Senate Floor:
Ayes: Beall, Block, Corbett, De León, DeSaulnier, Evans, Galgiani, Hernandez, Hill, Hueso, Jackson, Lara, Leno, Lieu, Mitchell, Monning, Padilla, Pavley, Roth, Steinberg, Wolk
Noes: Anderson, Berryhill, Correa, Fuller, Gaines, Huff, Knight, Morrell, Nielsen, Vidak, Wyland
No Votes Recorded: Calderon, Cannella, Hancock, Liu, Torres, Walters, Wright, Yee
Author
My apology to Mrs Waldron for claiming she voted for the taxicab cartel. She sat for Liberty
Let me tell you what the cab cartel really is. They are an instrument of Prostitution that no one will talk about. The sad part happens when our Children drink too much.
While the kidss show great responsiblity by going home in a taxi. Little do they know who is driving them home.
Mr. Erl, your comment I don’t get at all.
Mr. Rider, Uber and Lyft are making millions or billions and if they don’t figure out the system and get in the game, they’ll have no voice to counter those who do and who oppose them.
Is this a perfect system based on merit? No. But it’s the system. And if you’re not at the table you’ll be on the menu.