This is a good take. Absolutley have empathy for drivers who are already suffering with the pandemic, losing their only source of income in a horrible economy. But also lay so much blame on the local and state govt agencies for not putting a stop to this madness at the very beginning and negotiating with these…

They do not fit the first, by any means at all. Uber controls their cars, their rates, and (indirectly) their hours/rate of work. This is clear to anyone that’s even taken a passing glance at what an Uber driver has to do in order to be a driver.

I’d argue the drivers were always fucked. Regardless of how it was pitched the system was always set up to be a side hustle for people that were already working. Its an inherently low skill job with a low bar of entry. You are competing against a huge pool of people to make money and there’s not enough money in that…

I think one solution, if Uber/Lyft want the drivers to remain “contractors”, is to include what you mention: Contractors should be able to set their own rates, turn down jobs, etc... Uber/Lyft could then charge these contractors a fee to use their software tool for their share of the profits. I’m not saying either…

I used to be a contractor - I set my own prices for video production, the company agreed to them, and then I set about delivering the final product by the due date. I didn’t get penalized for not working certain hours, or not using a certain type of equipment, or any other set of rules. As a contractor, I was given a…

1st Gear: How can it affect their bottom line when none of them have turned a profit?

I have gone to the D.C. Auto Show several times in the past. It is a good show, but my impression is that it is getting a little smaller over the years.

Your point was usability in the abstract, not actual use by the owner

ND on that raptor, that’s what they cost new...

Or, you know, a WRX STi. 

Imagine a Ford Raptor being the tasteful choice...

1800 miles was as much bitching from the wife that they could take before they drove it to a dealership to trade it in for something that would shut her up.

The first attempt at parking within the lines at Starbucks was the end of their truck experience.

Five minutes after driving off the Ford lot.

I’d just like to point out that someone bought that Raptor, drove it for 1,800 miles, and then traded for, of all things, a Subaru. I would really like to know what the thought process was there, like “I guess I’ve had enough of the manly big off-road truck experience, now I think I’ll go drive the same Forester that…

To that point, 20k less, still under 2k miles, and way more tasteful.

I know they’re meant for slightly different markets, but at this price, why not just get a Raptor? You get nearly the same speed and an (arguably, I guess) more usable truck. Not like anyone buying this is using it to haul timber or gravel.

Man the ad with that photo fits so many articles lately

This was precisely my thought scrolling through the article and seeing that photo.