Considering I mentioned taxis… yes. I remember taxis.

But this goes a bit beyond corporations looking out for their interests. the whole “we’re not taxis” thing was specifically to negate local ordinances that require licensing and provide extensive regulations of taxis services. Like, service inspections, insurance requirements. Background checks to make sure your employees aren’t psychotic ax murderers.

as fucked as NY’s medallion system is, it’s actually stopping a host of problems that Uber failed to address. instead of complying with the rules… it argued (successfully,) that it was a ride-share matching service, and wasn’t any different than a person paying another for a ride into town.

Later, in CA they argued (again, successfully, at least in part,) that it’s employees weren’t employees but actually independent contractors. Specifically to get around minimum wage rules.

and they’re dumping in shitloads of money to stop public service specifically so as to maintain their stranglehold on the industry.

Government is also fucked up. but Uber and Lyft are a part of why goverment is fucked up. (after all, they’re people too… right…?)