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Ethereal
09-22-2017, 11:32 AM
'Unfit' Uber stripped of London license (https://www.reuters.com/article/us-uber-britain/unfit-uber-stripped-of-london-license-idUSKCN1BX151)

LONDON (Reuters) - London deemed Uber unfit to run a taxi service on Friday and stripped it of its license to operate from the end of next week in a major blow to the U.S. firm and 3.5 million users in one of the world’s wealthiest cities.

The capital’s transport regulator said the Silicon Valley technology giant’s approach and conduct was not fit and proper to hold a private vehicle hire license and it would not be renewed when it expires on Sept. 30.

Uber [UBER.UL], which has 40,000 drivers working in the capital, said it would contest the decision. Regulator Transport for London (TfL) said it would let Uber operate until the appeals process is exhausted, which could take months.

[...]

"Liberal" bureaucrats in London continue their campaign to deprive the city of one of the most innovative and disruptive technological platforms in the world.

These presumptuous, arrogant regulators have deemed Uber "unfit" despite the fact that millions of people voluntarily utilize Uber's services. Apparently, the opinion of a few stuffy London bureaucrats outweighs the collective wisdom and preference of millions of consumers.

Chris
09-22-2017, 11:45 AM
The government has to protect the cab companies from competition.

Chris
09-22-2017, 11:47 AM
"Boris Johnson says the government has a "duty" to help London's black cab drivers in the face of competition from Uber, rather than simply leave them at the mercy of the free market." @ Boris Johnson: 'The state has a duty' to protect black cabs from 'unfair' Uber competition (http://www.businessinsider.com/boris-johnson-the-state-has-a-duty-to-protect-black-cabs-from-unfair-uber-competition-2015-10?r=UK&IR=T)

(Boris is the mayor.)

Ethereal
09-22-2017, 11:48 AM
The government has to protect the cab companies from competition.

Exactly.

The ostensible justification is "safety" but the real reason is just cronyism and racketeering.

Common
09-22-2017, 12:07 PM
The government has to protect the cab companies from competition.
Thats the issue in a nutshell

Chris
09-22-2017, 12:11 PM
Well, there's safety and, apparently, London cabs must be handicap accessible. OK, so if that's what Londoners want, fine, enforce those regulations, don't just take away their license. It will cost Londoners lower fares and some of them livelihoods they've invested in.

Ethereal
09-22-2017, 12:17 PM
Well, there's safety and, apparently, London cabs must be handicap accessible.

In other words, if they cannot service 0.1% of the market, then the remaining 99.9% of the market doesn't get to use it either.

Ah, liberal logic. It never ceases to amaze.

Mister D
09-22-2017, 12:23 PM
What they will probably do is work without a license.

Ethereal
09-22-2017, 12:26 PM
This sort of tendency to over-regulate everything in the name of "safety" is one of the big reasons why so-called "liberal" jurisdictions struggle economically. Of course, an ancient and powerful city like London can withstand such burdens better, but that does not mean it isn't a burden. The fate of cities like Detroit and countries like Greece is what awaits jurisdictions who myopically prioritize their ephemeral "safety" obsession over innovation and free enterprise. Why do liberals refuse to see how damaging their regulatory policies can be? I'll tell you why: Because many of them personally profit off of the arrangement, either directly or indirectly. It has become a sad truth that in America there is a GIANT industry that feeds off government regulations, taxes, and subsidies. The Democrat party is the number one representative of this industry's interests, although the Republican party is not very far behind.

Ethereal
09-22-2017, 12:27 PM
What they will probably do is work without a license.

Or pull out of London entirely, like they did in Austin, Texas. In any case, the outcome will be a suboptimal one, and LOTS of workers and consumers will suffer as a result.

Chris
09-22-2017, 12:33 PM
In other words, if they cannot service 0.1% of the market, then the remaining 99.9% of the market doesn't get to use it either.

Ah, liberal logic. It never ceases to amaze.


Not unless they pay for training, licensing and etc like the black cabs do and likely contribute to political campaigns.

Chris
09-22-2017, 12:35 PM
This sort of tendency to over-regulate everything in the name of "safety" is one of the big reasons why so-called "liberal" jurisdictions struggle economically. Of course, an ancient and powerful city like London can withstand such burdens better, but that does not mean it isn't a burden. The fate of cities like Detroit and countries like Greece is what awaits jurisdictions who myopically prioritize their ephemeral "safety" obsession over innovation and free enterprise. Why do liberals refuse to see how damaging their regulatory policies can be? I'll tell you why: Because many of them personally profit off of the arrangement, either directly or indirectly. It has become a sad truth that in America there is a GIANT industry that feeds off government regulations, taxes, and subsidies. The Democrat party is the number one representative of this industry's interests, although the Republican party is not very far behind.


The progressive aim has always been to control everything scientifically. Like the mayor in the last Stossel video on tour guides said, we don't control everything, but we're making great progress.

It's the sort of thinking that led to the great totalitarian systems of last century.

Mini Me
09-22-2017, 08:03 PM
The progressive aim has always been to control everything scientifically. Like the mayor in the last Stossel video on tour guides said, we don't control everything, but we're making great progress.


It's the sort of thinking that led to the great totalitarian systems of last century.

WHOA there brother! That's a GIANT LEAP!

Chris
09-22-2017, 08:18 PM
WHOA there brother! That's a GIANT LEAP!


https://s26.postimg.org/c9sui37ux/l9_VGyn.gif

Peter1469
09-22-2017, 09:27 PM
Traffic is a nightmare in London. Take the tube.

Ethereal
09-24-2017, 05:42 PM
"Never underestimate the stupidity of people in large groups".


What, you mean the same "consumers" who gorge themselves to death on processed foods? lol

Not an expert on "Uber", but the stance of your argument is dumb, since it seems to believe that mob rule is a good form of self-regulation, when I think the French Revolution and Reign of Terror shows otherwise. People may know what's good for themselves and others, but truth is many don't care.

And who should decide what it is "best" for people? You? Some dusty bureaucrat?

As for your "mob rule" comment, that clearly does not apply here since the voluntary exchange of goods and services does not engender the imposition of any rules.

Bethere
09-24-2017, 05:47 PM
Traffic is a nightmare in London. Take the tube.

Underground London makes more sense than above ground London. Who would want to be a taxi driver in an illogical city like that?

Ethereal
09-24-2017, 05:50 PM
Devil, it's too late to delete your post. I already responded to it.

Just be proud that you disdain democracy, don't try to hide it.

:grin: