Thanks once again to The Other McCain for the Rule Five linkage!
Nutty old Socialist Bernie Sanders says he has problems with ride-sharing service Uber because it’s “unregulated.” Animal has problems with Bernie Sanders because he’s a statist nutbar. Excerpt:
Sen. Bernie Sanders, the self-described democratic socialist currently running for the Democratic presidential nomination, says he has “serious problems” with car service company Uber because it’s “unregulated.”
Sanders made the remark in an interview with Bloomberg News. There doesn’t appear to be any additional context to the quote. But for Sanders, there probably doesn’t need to be. The fact that Uber is big, successful—it was recently valued at $51 billion—and relatively innovative is problem enough. The only way to solve that problem with regulation.
Of course. Uber is still moving, so Bernie sees the need to regulate it – presumably, until it stops moving.
What compelling need is there to regulate Uber? Is anyone being forced to use it? Are Uber drivers abducting travelers at airports and forcing them to forgo traditional taxis? Are Uber drivers unsafe? Has there been a rash of robberies and physical attacks by Uber drivers? Are Uber drivers being busted for DWI while carrying passengers?
No? None of those things?
Then why do we need to regulate Uber? It’s an innovative, modern, free-market solution to a problem: Taxis are expensive, frequently filthy, and not available in many areas. I’ve used Uber in my travels many times and the cars are spotless (because the drivers own them) the drivers courteous, friendly and helpful. Oh, and the cost averages about half what taxis cost.
So why does nutty old Bernie want to rein in Uber? Because to an old socialist, government is the be-all and end-all. We can’t just have people out there making their own decisions and entering into free, voluntary economic transactions without Big Brother horning in, can we?
Freedom of association means freedom of economic association, not just physical and social association. That is apparently something that escapes Bernie Sanders.
