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Sigh. Did it take this long to realize that "gig economy" was all about employee arbitrage and the destruction of the bottom 1/5 of employees to 'day laborer w

Sigh. Did it take this long to realize that "gig economy" was all about employee arbitrage and the destruction of the bottom 1/5 of employees to 'day laborer with requirements of employees'? Uber steals tips by 'lowering pay' of a ride. Same with Lyft. Same with that food delivery service. They're all alike: 'abuse the worker cause they're here - they don't have other choices'. And all the while people "agree" to these abortions of contracts. Contracts usually have to be agreed to by someone of sound mind. So why isn't the threat of being hungry, homeless, medical care-less, and such not considered a invalidation of contracts? It's akin to a gun pointed at your head; it instead leads to poverty and homelessness.That has longer and just as severe ramifications.

smallgovt 7y ago
The more direct solution to helping those in tough situations like you describe is enforcing stricter employee labor laws. Messing with contract law is another can of worms. There are plenty of situations between corporations or wealthy people where parties have no other reasonable choice (e.g. a fire sale of a company). That shouldn’t make contracts void.
- crankylinuxuser 7y ago
  Why "Messing with contract law", especially when it concerns a corporation to an individual, so terrible? A company has piles of money and piles of lawyers. What do you, an individual have? You likely have a few thousand in the bank, more money locked away for old age, and can google a list of lawyers. Point being; there is a significant power imbalance between an individual and a corporation. So absolutely yes, we as a society should be legally preventing and stopping many contracts, ToS, and other legal and quazi-legal instruments for abuses of all sorts. That should apply from shitty Valley upstarts all the way to banking and old businesses.

smallgovt 7y ago

The more direct solution to helping those in tough situations like you describe is enforcing stricter employee labor laws. Messing with contract law is another can of worms. There are plenty of situations between corporations or wealthy people where parties have no other reasonable choice (e.g. a fire sale of a company). That shouldn’t make contracts void.

crankylinuxuser 7y ago
Why "Messing with contract law", especially when it concerns a corporation to an individual, so terrible? A company has piles of money and piles of lawyers. What do you, an individual have? You likely have a few thousand in the bank, more money locked away for old age, and can google a list of lawyers. Point being; there is a significant power imbalance between an individual and a corporation. So absolutely yes, we as a society should be legally preventing and stopping many contracts, ToS, and other legal and quazi-legal instruments for abuses of all sorts. That should apply from shitty Valley upstarts all the way to banking and old businesses.