D.C. wages vicious war against taxi business: “You still want to fight with us?” (VIDEO)

The Uber Wars: How D.C. Tried To Kill A Great New Ride Technology

 “A government is the most dangerous threat to man’s rights: it holds a legal monopoly on the use of physical force against legally disarmed victims.” -Ayn Rand

Bureaucrats in the District of Columbia fought tooth and nail to keep Uber, the popular taxi service from operating in the city. Regular cab services fought against the competition that gave residents the ability to summon cabs easily on a mobile phone. Thousands of Washington residents use the service on a daily basis, giving them a safer, cleaner, faster ride to their local destinations.

Residents of the District had grown fed up with the dirty cabs in the city that didn’t accept their payment options. If you use Uber, you don’t even have to pay your driver directly, it simply deducts the amount from your account, tip and all. The GPS tracker shows exactly where your car is, and can even tell the driver where you are, making finding your ride very simple.

The local government waged a vicious war against Uber, doing everything in their power to stop them from providing their services in the District. Local politicians responded to pressure from the taxi industry, issuing waves of attacks to block them from operating. One politician even cited terrorism as a reason for the cab service to be regulated.

Uber eventually won the right to a license to operate in the city. But all that means is that their competitors now will have to work harder to try to keep up with them. This excellent 11 minute program by Reason TV has the whole story.


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