Most Benefits of the Gig Economy Are Completely Imaginary

[eridani]

http://readersupportednews.org/news-section2/318-66/35558-most-benefits-of-the-gig-economy-are-completely-imaginary

The “new economy” looks a lot like the old economy

Companies like Uber, Lyft, Handy, Postmates, and Wonolo dispatch drivers, odd-job workers, cleaners, delivery people, shelf-stockers, and others for short-term “gigs.” Such convenience is great for many consumers. What’s not great is that these companies claim their business models are so innovative that they don’t need to treat the workers they rely upon as employees.

Unfortunately, this claim is nothing new. For decades, whole segments of industries, including janitorial, trucking, home care, and delivery services, have adopted a strategy of labeling their workers as self-employed independent contractors. In this way, businesses are able to push many of their costs onto the shoulders of the low-wage workers who do their bidding.

Companies in the same industries that want to treat their workers lawfully have to struggle to compete with companies that save money by paying no Social Security, Medicare, workers’ compensation or unemployment insurance taxes and abide by no labor laws. It’s a great get-rich scheme for those at the top, but a stay-poor scheme for the workers at the bottom.

[truedelphi]

1. Additonally most of the big shots at Uber are pulling out all the stops

Last edited Sun Mar 6, 2016, 07:07 PM - Edit history (2)

To have the "smart cars" revolutionize the roadways.

Their entire talking point is how "smart cars" will bring needed safety to our roadways.

They claim that one million people re killed in cars every year.

They fail to mention that the entire principle behind smart cars happens to be radar beams being sent out to be the "visual aid" that allows the cars to be so smart.

What is the effect of radar blasted at civilian populations continually? We don't know, not really. Some studies have been done regarding radar and it s effects on naval personnel and people on military bass.

But we have never had a situation in which the entire population will be blasted with radar all day long so cars can do the driving for us.

Oh and BTW, the number of delivery drivers world wide, and this is including Uber personnel, that will be without work totals is in the 250 to 300 million people range once self-driving automobiles and trucks are a reality!

[MisterP]

2. they've been promising self-driving fusion-powered cars that can do 180 since the Eisenhower years