“Psychological projection is when an individual attributes his own unpleasant characteristics to others,” said ‘Who’s Driving You?’ just now.
War declared! A Daily Beast article announces Uber has been interviewing campaign managers for months—actual ones from presidential campaigns—to lead its impending full-blown political war campaign replete with consultants, lobbyists and a ‘grassroots’ organization. No, make that: ‘astroturf’ organization.
Why does Uber need to wage a political campaign? Because after months of Uber accumulating lawsuits, ignoring cease-and-desist orders, generating international protests and states issuing insurance warnings to their consumers, lawmakers are rousing to the fact that something’s wrong.
Something’s wrong with the way Uber does business.
So, Uber is going to launch a massive political war campaign to change this perception. But what’s wrong with Uber is so simple—yet so crucial—that an army of lawyers and lobbyists won’t be enough to get the job done.
Here’s what’s wrong: Uber doesn’t take responsibility for itself. Uber is providing for-hire transportation services across the nation and simultaneously denying that it’s a transportation provider. This denial isn’t simply our own interpretation. Uber actually said this with a straight face in a San Francisco courtroom in the wrongful death lawsuit of six-year-old Sofia Liu.
Every city in America has developed rules that protect passengers and drivers in the taxicab space. Here’s why: When citizens are ferried by strangers in vehicles for hire, there is risk involved. Real risk. Cities and states establish their own rules to reduce this risk.
Uber is audaciously operating in this taxicab space without taking responsibility for key public-safety essentials like proper insurance and rigorous background checks that sift out dangerous drivers. In response, states and cities are beginning to say: You simply can’t do this.
So, Uber’s political war machine is gearing up. Prepare for the bullshit blitzkrieg.