Open Prison Canada

Uber gradually cementing its cronyist reach.

"Cronyist" may not be a real word, but I think most people understand what I mean.

Uber would have been nothing more than one of many taxicab dispatch software vendors if not for the massive fault lines created by government regulation of taxicabs in the first place. Those regulations erected structures that were highly vulnerable to political caprice. As some of Hamilton's taxi regulators warned those who relied upon their taxi licenses for old-age pension incomes, "Everything you have worked for can be wiped out at the stroke of a pen."

That deadly stroke finally came when a cash-laden U.S. corporation with oodles of political influence ^[1],^[2],^[3],^[4], in mad pursuit of yield for its investors, decided to exsanguinate the global taxi industry.

In Hamilton, majority of city councilors didn't bat an eye when they voted to wipe out hundreds of local taxi license owners in order to appease a foreign corporation.

Here is yet another example of Uber colluding with a willing local government in order to enrich its investors.

I missed this report when it came out. (April 3)

"The town of Innisfil is partnering with Uber."

So much for Uber being all about free enterprise. In Innisfil, taxpayers will be subsidizing Uber's profits.

Uber's MO reminds me of certain creatures found in nature:

10 deadly parasites

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A few views of crony capitalism:

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Back in the 1970's a small group of us became very enthusiastic about drinking wine, smoking herb, listening to music, and playing games of strategy.

One of our favorite games was "Diplomacy."

It was unlike any other game I had ever played, except for chess.

But chess relied almost entirely upon applying a certain mathematical logic, whereas Diplomacy required certain other disciplines, like negotiation, psychology, manipulation, calculation, and outright mendacity.

Chess was like free markets. The rules were well understood, and, though there could be surprises that could result in instant wins, or losses, the fairness of the outcome was rarely questioned.

Diplomacy, on the other hand, was all about politics and mixed economies. Lies could be told with impunity, and promises could be repeatedly broken, as in the real world. The winner would be the one who was most adept at employing the right combination of strategy, dishonesty, sociopathy (it was just a game,) and psychology.

I have to admit, on occasion, I rather enjoyed the use of psychology. Psychological skills allowed you to pretend you were friends with someone, while fucking him up the ass, without him ever catching on. Kind of like the way Uber/government collusion has boned the taxi industry.

It just occurred to me that the hours I spent in my 20's playing Diplomacy provided me with with valuable insights that I carried with me throughout my life, and that gave me the skills required to see most politicians for who they really are.

For anyone that has never played Diplomacy, I highly recommend you try it.

Product Description

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haha. Now this!

"An Uber spokesman told The Information: "We recognize we need to improve our relationship with drivers and their experience using Uber. We're working on a range of improvements across our products, our policies, our customer support and how we communicate.""

After all of the BULLSHIT we had to listen to from Uber shills, like Tim Hudak and his poster girl granny, Esther Nerling, about making money from assets you already own, and funding your grand-daughter's university education in Sweden, we were supposed to expect that every wanna-be cab driver who couldn't be bothered with getting a cab license, would be able to circumvent the evil "taxi cartels" and rake in the cash. All they had to do was "tap an app" and the joys of being pioneers in the phony "sharing economy" would come their way.

And the fucking horseshit we had to suffer from the mouths of slimy politicians parroting the "new technology" and "Uber is here to stay," mantras, as if the taxi business were a new idea. (In some ways, I am convinced, from a lifetime of observation, that most politicians are so fucking clueless, that they actually DO believe that taxi transport is a brand new idea.)

The reality finally begins to hit home.

"Only 4% of Uber drivers remain on the platform a year later, says report"

No wonder we see so many, MADD Canada-endorsed, Uber drivers performing amazing circus stunts on city streets, like sudden turns from the wrong lanes, and driving the wrong fucking way up one-way streets.

Yep. These ignorant politicians really know what they are doing. No wonder they think think they can legislate the Earth's climate.

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