4 ms·

That was a really long way to go just to attack local politicians for not giving in to Uber's (empty) threats of leaving. Their entire business model is based

That was a really long way to go just to attack local politicians for not giving in to Uber's (empty) threats of leaving. Their entire business model is based on breaking the law and yet people are shocked when local governments don't just roll over for them.

Analemma_ 11y ago
Seriously. I remember a time when people protested their local governments when they gave in to corporate blackmail of the "let us do this illegal thing or we'll take our business elsewhere" variety. And now some of them are instead protesting when local governments don't give in. God help us.
- abawany 11y ago
  I follow reddit Austin as well and while the sleaziness of Uber's actions is apparent to many, they also have a lot of fans. Recently it came out that one of the councilpersons who resisted Uber had a recall petition filed against her by some notorious political operatives (1,2) and with that, the pro-Uber voices seem to have died down as the identity of the operatives became known. It was never clear if the pro voices are shills or genuine fans as traditional taxi services have genuine issues. 1: https://www.reddit.com/r/Austin/comments/43fco8/can_someone_set_me_straight_on_the_battle_between/ https://www.reddit.com/r/Austin/comments/43fco8/can_someone_... 2: https://www.reddit.com/r/Austin/comments/46q8z5/ann_kitchen_says_people_with_austin4all_came_to/ https://www.reddit.com/r/Austin/comments/46q8z5/ann_kitchen_...
- khaolak 11y ago
  I remember a time when people protested their local governments to enact laws and policies which they thought were best. Which is exactly what's happening here. I haven't followed the situation with Uber closely, I don't know what laws they're supposedly breaking, but my general citizen layman opinion is that the service should be allowed, so if my local taxi mafia has gotten laws passed that prevent Uber, then those laws should be changed or repealed. Your characterization just seems really weird to me. This isn't some company dumping chemicals in our backyards. It's a service that many people like, of course those people are going to petition their government to let them use it.

Analemma_ 11y ago

Seriously. I remember a time when people protested their local governments when they gave in to corporate blackmail of the "let us do this illegal thing or we'll take our business elsewhere" variety. And now some of them are instead protesting when local governments don't give in. God help us.

abawany 11y ago
I follow reddit Austin as well and while the sleaziness of Uber's actions is apparent to many, they also have a lot of fans. Recently it came out that one of the councilpersons who resisted Uber had a recall petition filed against her by some notorious political operatives (1,2) and with that, the pro-Uber voices seem to have died down as the identity of the operatives became known. It was never clear if the pro voices are shills or genuine fans as traditional taxi services have genuine issues. 1: https://www.reddit.com/r/Austin/comments/43fco8/can_someone_set_me_straight_on_the_battle_between/ https://www.reddit.com/r/Austin/comments/43fco8/can_someone_... 2: https://www.reddit.com/r/Austin/comments/46q8z5/ann_kitchen_says_people_with_austin4all_came_to/ https://www.reddit.com/r/Austin/comments/46q8z5/ann_kitchen_...
khaolak 11y ago
I remember a time when people protested their local governments to enact laws and policies which they thought were best. Which is exactly what's happening here. I haven't followed the situation with Uber closely, I don't know what laws they're supposedly breaking, but my general citizen layman opinion is that the service should be allowed, so if my local taxi mafia has gotten laws passed that prevent Uber, then those laws should be changed or repealed. Your characterization just seems really weird to me. This isn't some company dumping chemicals in our backyards. It's a service that many people like, of course those people are going to petition their government to let them use it.