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The bigger picture here is the trend of local governments desperately pushing against a tide of ever more pervasive globalisation. The simple reason something

The bigger picture here is the trend of local governments desperately pushing against a tide of ever more pervasive globalisation. The simple reason something like Uber will win is business travellers expect to show up in any city and for it to work. If it doesn't that's not a mark against the Uber-like, it's a mark against the city. People do not want one app per city or country, but one which works everywhere. This is beyond the scope of any government to get near. The thing is Uber are slimy in the way Napster were taking the piss a bit, but it's clear the space is there for someone to come in and clean up.

Xylakant 12y ago
See, Uber could do it. They could just follow the regulations like everybody else, provide a better service and in the end, all would win. Or just provide the app and have a local partner in germany that does. But they don't want to. They want more: Skirt the regulations and illuminate us, but we don't want to be illuminated, especially not when the proceeds for that illumination go to ubers pockets while society bears the costs.
- fidotron 12y ago
  That misses the point completely, which is that globalisation is forcing governments to accept a lowest common denominator of regulation. You can debate the merits of this until the cows come home, but it doesn't change that it's happening, and while attempts to prevent it can have limited local short term success the long term perspective is that the power of government, even at the super national level (such as the EU) is being steadily eroded by private interests. As an example, we all boo whenever a country bans Twitter, but that's just them enforcing their local regulations, which I'm sure they have very good reasons for. (i.e. they may legitimately prevent a riot) This is no different.
  - Vik1ng 12y ago
    I don't see why a country should accept any lowest common denominator of regulation for local taxis. Something that literally only affects the area in that country. If I need to get from the Berlin Aiport to the city centre then it doesn't matter what kind of cab service NY or SF has. They only cabs available there are going to be cabs and rides the Berlin or German government allows to operate.
- mason240 12y ago
  >They could just follow the regulations like everybody else I can't speak for the regulations in Germany, but in the US, the system is designed by the "everybody else" with the intention of keeping new entrants out. There is obviously no conspiracy, but the interests of the established firms and local governments (who raise a lot of money from overpriced licencing and fees) complement each other to restrict competition.
  - Xylakant 12y ago
    It differs a little from town to town, but in general in Germany, there is some protection for the established, but if you have a look at the numbers, you'll see that it's nothing that can't be overcome by a new entrant. We're talking about low 4 digit investments in certifications for driver and car and a couple of weeks time. There are like 3000 cab companies with a total of 7200 cabs in Berlin, that already shows that it's not a market with a lot of big players that try and keep the small players out.

Xylakant 12y ago

See, Uber could do it. They could just follow the regulations like everybody else, provide a better service and in the end, all would win. Or just provide the app and have a local partner in germany that does. But they don't want to. They want more: Skirt the regulations and illuminate us, but we don't want to be illuminated, especially not when the proceeds for that illumination go to ubers pockets while society bears the costs.

fidotron 12y ago
That misses the point completely, which is that globalisation is forcing governments to accept a lowest common denominator of regulation. You can debate the merits of this until the cows come home, but it doesn't change that it's happening, and while attempts to prevent it can have limited local short term success the long term perspective is that the power of government, even at the super national level (such as the EU) is being steadily eroded by private interests. As an example, we all boo whenever a country bans Twitter, but that's just them enforcing their local regulations, which I'm sure they have very good reasons for. (i.e. they may legitimately prevent a riot) This is no different.
- Vik1ng 12y ago
  I don't see why a country should accept any lowest common denominator of regulation for local taxis. Something that literally only affects the area in that country. If I need to get from the Berlin Aiport to the city centre then it doesn't matter what kind of cab service NY or SF has. They only cabs available there are going to be cabs and rides the Berlin or German government allows to operate.
mason240 12y ago
>They could just follow the regulations like everybody else I can't speak for the regulations in Germany, but in the US, the system is designed by the "everybody else" with the intention of keeping new entrants out. There is obviously no conspiracy, but the interests of the established firms and local governments (who raise a lot of money from overpriced licencing and fees) complement each other to restrict competition.
- Xylakant 12y ago
  It differs a little from town to town, but in general in Germany, there is some protection for the established, but if you have a look at the numbers, you'll see that it's nothing that can't be overcome by a new entrant. We're talking about low 4 digit investments in certifications for driver and car and a couple of weeks time. There are like 3000 cab companies with a total of 7200 cabs in Berlin, that already shows that it's not a market with a lot of big players that try and keep the small players out.